Early access · NairobiSocial-graph carpooling

The carpool network your circle already trusts.

Swyng maps your social connections to every ride search. Book a driver who is 2nd-degree through a friend — not a stranger — and pay via M-Pesa in one tap.

NairobiKisumu

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Phase 1 targets

Building a trusted network from day one.

These are the milestones we are working toward in our first six months. Numbers are targets, not live counts — we will update them as the network grows.

Launch corridors2Nairobi–Kisumu · Nairobi–Nakuru
Verified users (target)5,000+End of Phase 1
Rides per week (target)1,000+End of Phase 1
Active drivers (target)500+KYC-verified drivers

How it works

From network to ride in three steps.

1

Sign up and connect your network

Create your profile with WhatsApp OTP or Google. Add friends and colleagues — every connection you make becomes a hop that future riders and drivers can trust.

2

Search rides across your circle

Every search result shows your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree connections to the driver. Sort by hops to put trusted drivers first — no more guessing who you are riding with.

3

Book and pay via M-Pesa

Select your seats and confirm your booking. An M-Pesa STK push lands on your phone — enter your PIN and the fare is held in escrow until the ride completes.

What Swyng offers

Everything a trusted journey needs.

Social-graph hops

See 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree connections on every ride card. Know who in your circle has already ridden with this driver before you book.

M-Pesa on the booking screen

Pay with an M-Pesa STK push without leaving the app. No card, no separate download — just your number and a PIN.

Safety on the critical path

One-tap SOS works offline. Emergency contacts get your location automatically. Driver details are cached locally so they are always reachable.

KYC-verified drivers

Every driver completes a Smile ID identity check before their first ride. Profile photos, government ID, and vehicle documents are reviewed and approved.

Post a ride in under 90 seconds

Drivers set route, departure time, seats available, and fare. The platform handles matching, booking management, and payout via M-Pesa Daraja.

WhatsApp-native sharing

Share your ride or driver profile via a WhatsApp link. Contacts who are not yet on Swyng see the ride details and your hop distance — a built-in invite.

Active corridors

Starting with Kenya's busiest intercity routes.

Phase 1 launches on two corridors. More routes open as the driver network grows.

NairobiKisumu

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Live

Nairobi → Kisumu

Kenya's busiest intercity corridor. ~350 km, 5–6 hours. Strong university and family travel demand.

Search this corridor
NairobiNakuru

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Live

Nairobi → Nakuru

160 km, 2–3 hours. High weekly-commuter traffic from Naivasha and Nakuru professionals working in Nairobi.

Search this corridor

Early riders

What riders in our alpha network say.

These are representative voices from our early-access community, shared with permission. Names reflect real rider personas; quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.

“I travel Nairobi to Kisumu every month. Before Swyng I was booking rides through WhatsApp groups and hoping for the best. Now I can see that my driver is 2nd-degree through my university roommate — that actually changes how safe I feel.”
Wanjiru N.University student · Nairobi–Kisumu
“I drive Naivasha to Nairobi every week. The recurring ride feature means I post once and get bookings all month. M-Pesa payout lands the same day the ride completes — no chasing anyone for payment.”
Peter M.Weekly commuter driver · Naivasha–Nairobi
“As a woman traveling alone on the Mombasa road, trust is everything. Seeing that my driver is connected through a colleague — with 14 completed rides and verified documents — made the booking feel completely different from a random app.”
Faith K.Solo traveler · Nairobi–Mombasa

FAQ

Common questions.

What is the social graph / hops system?

Swyng tracks connections between users — friends, colleagues, people you have ridden with before. When you search for a ride, each result shows how many “hops” away the driver is: 1st-degree means someone you know directly, 2nd-degree means a friend of a friend, 3rd-degree means one step further. The shorter the chain, the warmer the introduction.

How does M-Pesa payment work?

After confirming your booking, you will receive an M-Pesa STK push — a payment prompt on your phone. Enter your M-Pesa PIN to authorize the fare. The money is held in escrow until your ride completes, then released to the driver. You never hand over cash.

How are drivers verified?

Every driver completes a Smile ID identity verification — government-issued ID, a selfie check, and vehicle documents — before their first ride is listed. Our KYC team reviews and approves each submission, typically within 24 hours.

What happens if I have an emergency on a ride?

The SOS button is always one tap away on the active ride screen. Tapping it opens a 3-second countdown, then automatically calls emergency services, sends your live location to your emergency contacts via SMS, and alerts the Swyng operations team. SOS is designed to work even when your internet connection is poor.

Which routes does Swyng currently serve?

Phase 1 covers Nairobi–Kisumu and Nairobi–Nakuru. We are planning to add Nairobi–Mombasa, Nairobi–Eldoret, and Nairobi–Nyeri in Phase 2. If you travel a corridor that is not yet live, sign up now and you will be notified when your route opens.

Is Swyng free to join?

Signing up and searching for rides is free. Swyng takes a small platform fee on each completed booking — this covers the escrow, KYC checks, and operations. The fee is shown transparently on the booking screen before you confirm.

Join the network that knows your driver.

Early access is open. Sign up with WhatsApp OTP, Google, or email — no password required.