When the cash-light fare system was touted and effected, many youths working in the matatu sector were afraid of sleeping hungry. This is not the case, however, after Fiber Space Limited, the company behind My 1963 paycard, inked a deal with over 100 matatu SACCOs to help create jobs for the people who otherwise would face the chop in the wake of cashless pay model.
So far, over 2000 youth jobs have been created in the initiative which involves getting the unemployed youth into groups and deploying them in selling the cards to customers. For each card sold by the groups, the matatu SACCOs get a KSh20 commission which is used to pay the youth who in turn make up to the tune of Ksh20,000 per month. This is from the 100 SACCOs already in the initiative running over 6,000 matatus.
“Anytime technology is introduced, there are always job loss fears. But with our product we decided to use technology to create jobs. We wanted a technology that encourages human interaction,” said Mr Mwakio Ngale, the owner and General Manager of Fiber Space Limited, citing MOA Compliant SACCO plying the Ngong Road route that has employed around 40 people to sell the cards in the 67 buses under the SACCO.
“It has proven transformatory for the unemployed youth. You can imagine the difference it will make if the same concept was adopted by all the SACCOs. We believe this is our little bit of making the world a better place for everyone.”
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