"At first, I was sceptical about the idea but during the Covid-19 period, I took up the challenge and I have never looked back," she said.
She got into the business to increase her source of income as her husband was laid off following the impact of Covid-19 in the country.
"When my husband lost his job, we had to look for other means of raising money for our children, paying bills and living. At the time, I was the only one who knew how to drive in our home, so we discussed about the taxi business, and went for it," she said.
She is among over 50,000 female taxi drivers who are taking the industry by storm.
The business is mainly identified with men, who have operated taxis for over a century.
The 30-year-old procurement officer, says the business is very profitable, and the increased number of online taxi apps has helped in generating more money.
"The introduction of online apps has really helped women to get into the business, the likes of Uber, Bolt and Little cabs are now our sources of income," she said.
The challenge she has received is getting male passengers who insist on calling her late at night just to talk, others wanting to date her and even worse touching her inappropriately during the trip.
"My first few weeks into the business were not easy. I was to pick up a passenger from a club in Nairobi. When I called to confirm pick up, he was shocked that a female will be driving him home. Before I hang up the phone, he kissed me through the phone,"
Anyango says that was the first red flag she received and cancelled the ride, and vowed not to avoid night trips until she was used to the business.
"That was gross, and many women go through it, but since they need to make ends meet, they take the ride, and pray nothing happens beyond the blow phone kiss, not me though,"
Having female passengers is not easy. Anyango says, from her experience, women are difficult to deal with in the business.
"Others request for a ride, come in with their men and say by the window, 'don't seduce my man', and you wonder what to tell them, " she said.
"Other women are the best, they get to know you, want to know why you started the business, and even give you tips," she added.
In September 2021, Bolt launched a Women-Only ride category which enables female passengers to request rides from female drivers.
“Women Only Category is part of our initiative to empower women drivers while providing an alternative to female passengers in Mombasa to flexibly and conveniently move around the city in a way that is most comfortable and communally acceptable for them,” Regional manager, Bolt EA Kenneth Micah said.
With the introduction of the women-only category, sexual harassment has declined, and women have also become more respectful, Anyango says as she smiles.
Despite the challenges, on a good day, Anyango makes up to Sh9,000, this is if she starts the taxi business at 8 am.
"If I start the rides at 2 pm, I path with about Sh4500, there is normally a slow surge during the day," she said.
Mercy Mwangi, who has been in the business for over a year, says so far so good.
But before becoming a taxi woman, Mercy was a full-time housewife.
She, however, says her husband was not supportive of her move to be in the business.
"It was a struggle, my husband associated the taxi business with prostitution, which was a weird idea. We almost broke up. He couldn't understand that I also needed my own source of income," she said
Mercy went into the business despite the lack of support from her husband and started supporting her when money was flowing in.
"To be very honest, my husband embraced the business when money started flowing in, the moment helped in paying the house bills, he apologised about the prostitution remarks," she added.
She however does not operate at night, as she has to go take care of her family, prepare the children for school the next day and help with homework.
"I get home at around 7:30 pm, every day. I don't accept requests past 6:30 pm, as I have to go home and meet my family's needs. My children wait for me to assist with their homework and supervise them take their shower," she said.
Mercy makes an average of Sh12,000 on a good day and Sh5500 on a bad day.
This is exclusive of fuel costs and other car expenses, including online app commissions.
In experience challenges, Mercy says her major ones have been the increased fuel prices, rain and long-distance trips with poorly constructed roads.
"When I get long-distance trips, my biggest worry is normally the roads, although I love them, they are the ones that bring in good money," she said.
