DO YOU HAVE A BEBA CARD?

Google has entered the Kenya payments market- which is mainly dominated by banks and M-PESA- very quietly with a service known as beba (which means to carry or to transport in Kiswahili). The Beba service enables travellers to make ticket purchases with an NFC  (Near field communication)
card known as a beba card.



The beba cards are free of charge and are available from beba agents in certain locations. Google is using Top Image - the same company that markets M-PESA- to market the beba cards. You need a gmail account to activate and load your card with money from a beba agent.
   
Obtained a beba card and loaded it with money from an agent at Kencom and use it to pay for my bus fare immediately.The conductor taps the card on a NFC enabled cellphone and you immediately get an sms receipt from the short code 2729 showing you the amount you have used, the bus company that you are using and the balance on your beba card.

Beba's main selling proposition is to help people save money. The bus conductors and matatu touts have been known to hike up bus fares the moment it starts raining or when there is traffic. This is the problem that beba is solving for commuters.

You can view all the transactions you have made from the beba website - that is, the date, amount and location where you loaded the beba card with money, the bus company you used, the amount you paid and the final destination where you alighted from the bus. You can easily claim for a refund in a case where a conductor over charges you because all the evidence is there in your account.


The conductor of the Citi Hoppa bus I was traveling in was visibly not happy when I handed him the beba card. The conductors sometimes charge you but they do not give you a receipt meaning they pocket that money. That also means that they do not have any incentive whatsoever to accept the beba cards from commuters. Google have got themselves a niche and they are solving a real problem. It will be interesting to see how they will scale the beba service, especially so in the notorious and chaotic matatu industry.



WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

1. What is the Beba card?

The Beba card is a transport payment card that makes it easy to pay for bus fare and helps you save money. It’s convenient because you don’t have to worry about getting change.

1. To use your Beba card, you just tap your card on the card reader to pay.
2. You can get a Beba card for yourself, family members or coworkers.
3. You also get free SMS receipts and the Beba website makes it easy to budget and manage your expenses on your mobile or computer.

2. Where can I use the Beba card?

Currently, you can use the Beba card to pay your bus fare on Citi Hoppa buses in Nairobi.

3. How do I get a new Beba card or top up the card?

You can get a new Beba card or top up your card by visiting a Beba agent at Kencom and other major bus stops in Nairobi. Find out where to top up your Beba card. 

Where to top-up your card

 

Need to top-up your card? You can do it in these places:

Airport

Airport Town Stage Donholm Roundabout General Motors Pipeline

City Center

Ambasadeur GPO / Teleposta Towers Kencom O.T.C. Serena Yaya Centre

Karen

Bomas Karen Bus Stage

Kawangware

Congo Bus Station Stage 2

4. How much does it cost to use the Beba card?

Nothing. The Beba card is free. There are no fees for getting a new card and there are no fees for using the card to make payments.

5. What is the maximum value I can put on a Beba card?

10,000 Ksh.

6. What is the maximum number of Beba cards per person?

5 cards.

7. What if my Beba card is lost or stolen?

If your card is lost or stolen, please report this by sending an email to support@beba.co.ke or by using the form on this page. Once we receive your message, we will block your Beba card and it will become unusable. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for the blocking process to complete across the system. Once your Beba card is blocked, we will send all the remaining funds on your card to you via M-Pesa. You can get a new card at anytime by visiting a Beba agent at Kencom or other major bus stops.

8. Does the Beba card expire?

Yes. Your Beba card will expire if you do not top up the card for 6 months. If your Beba card expires, we will block your card and it will become unusable. We will send all the remaining funds on your card to you via M-Pesa.

9. How do I report incorrect charges?

To report an incorrect charge on your Beba card, send an email to support@beba.co.ke.

Bus routes You can use the Beba card to pay your bus fare on Citi Hoppa buses in Nairobi. Citi Hoppa bus stops and routes are listed below: 4C - Satelite Riruta via BP Petrol Station CBD (Kencom) - Community - Kenyatta - Ngong Road - Adams Arcade - Dagoretti Corner - Naivasha Road - Riruta Satellite 4W - Satelite Riruta via Wanyee Rd CBD (Kencom) - Community - Kenyatta - Ngong Road - Adams Arcade - Dagoretti Corner - Naivasha Road - Wanyee Road - Kinyanjui Road 7(A) - Kenyatta Hospital CBD (Kencom) - GPO - Community - Kenyatta 7(B) Serena - Community - Kenyatta 16 CBD(Kencom) - GPO - Community - Kenyatta - Mbagathi Way - Highrise 24 - Karen / Hardy via Ngong Rd CBD (Studio 1) - GPO - Uhuru Highway - Nairobi West - Langata Road - Langata South Road - Bogani Road - Karen Road - Langata Road - Karen Shops - Ngong Road - Kenyatta - Community - GPO - Ambassadeur 32C CBD (Kencom) - Community - MTC - Ngong Road - Nakumaat - Mugo Kibiru Road - Kibera Olympic - Ayany - Jamhuri 34 - Airport via Jogoo Rd Ambassadeur - Muthurua - City Stadium - Jogoo Road - Donholm - Avenue Park - Nyayo Estate Airport Road - JKIA - Mombasa Road - Uhuru Highway - GPO - Ambassadeur 34 - Airport via Mombasa Rd 40 - Ngummo via Community CBD - GPO - Community - M.T.C - Mbagathi Way - MDH - Ngummo 46 - Kawangware CBD (Kencom) - Valley Road - Hurlingham - Yaya Centre - Valley Arcade - Kawangware 58 Ambassadeur - Muthurua - City Stadium - Jogoo Road - Buru Buru Police