From 7 buses in 2003 : Easy Coach dreams big in electric buses era

the-star.co.ke · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Easy Coach founder Azym Dossa / FILEEasy Coach is currently considered one of the biggest, if not, the biggest bus company in Kenya with over 35 destinations. In 2023 The Star caught up with the founder and managing director Azym Dossa, who shared insights on the country's transport sector business and the future of bus transport.*This is a republication of the 2023 interview with The Star.How was Easy Coach born and what inspired the forming of the company?Certainly. My tenure as the CFO of one of Kenya's most successful transport companies (Akamba) gave me not only invaluable experience, but also a unique perspective on the industry. Inspired by a combination of what I saw could be improved and an intrinsic drive to craft an even better enterprise, I decided to establish Easy Coach. This decision wasn't taken lightly. With a combination of self-determination and, I believe, some divine grace, I took on the challenge head-on.We started modestly, with an initial fleet of seven buses operating a single route between Nairobi and Kisumu. Specifically, we had three buses journeying to Kisumu during the day and the same three returning at night. Additionally, we always kept one bus on standby, ensuring a seamless rotation for regular maintenance and potential rescues if needed.Not long after our debut, the town of Kakamega expressed interest in our services. To meet this demand, we expanded our fleet by adding four more buses. As word about our brand spread, so did the requests from other towns and regions. It's astonishing to reflect that in just three short years, we grew to operate a fleet of 40 buses serving 15 different destinations. Today, our reach and fleet have more than doubled from that milestone.With your many years of experience in the bus transport business, what do you think contributes to the numerous road accidents on our highways and what should be done to address this?Road accidents are a multi-faceted issue with contributing factors ranging from the individual behavior of drivers and pedestrians to the state of the vehicles and the road infrastructure. Some common causes identified by various authorities and observers include speeding, impaired driving due to alcohol or fatigue, failure to use indicators or appropriately signal for road conditions, operation of unroad worthy vehicles, and inadequate or missing road warning signs. All of these elements, in isolation or combination, contribute to accidents.However, I strongly believe that the cornerstone to improving road safety is ensuring rigorous compliance with rules and regulations. This extends beyond just the drivers of public service vehicles (PSVs). The responsibility lies with everyone who interacts with the road, including private vehicle owners, pedestrians, and even jaywalkers or distracted individuals such as cell phone users, who are often major contributors to road accidents.At Easy Coach, we have made a concerted effort to address this issue proactively. Our approach encompasses not only continuous practical driver training on the road but also mindset training in the classroom. These training sessions are led by professionals recommended by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). They focus on promoting a safety-first mentality and responsible behavior while navigating the roadways, whether one is behind the wheel of a bus or walking as a pedestrian. By instilling a culture of respect for road safety norms, we can significantly contribute to reducing the number of road accidents.Do you go to bed full of anxiety every night because you live in fear of being woken up to be told your bus has been involved in an accident?Absolutely, the nature of the transport business, especially when responsible for the safety and well-being of countless passengers, inevitably carries a weight of responsibility. Every unexpected phone call during the night does bring about a surge of anxiety, as it could be news of an accident or a breakdown. Even in scenarios where our vehicle may not be directly at fault, the mere occurrence of an accident, especially with fatalities or injuries, is deeply distressing. Once notified, our traffic officers promptly step in to manage the situation, but the initial moment of uncertainty and concern remains deeply ingrained. It's a testament to the profound sense of duty and care we feel towards our passengers and employees alike.If you were to start all over again, would you still pick transport as a business?Every business or profession carries inherent risks and offers unique opportunities for both success and setbacks. Having accumulated 17 years of experience in the transport sector, I had become intimately familiar with both its challenges and rewards. I understood the intricacies, the highs and lows, and what it takes to consistently evolve to meet customer expectations. Drawing from this knowledge, I was inspired to redefine the transport experience by introducing amenities like waiting lounges and washrooms in all our branch offices, thereby elevating the customer experience by offering dignity and value-added services. Our commitment to safety, security, punctuality, comfort, and reliability didn't just meet the needs of our customers—it exceeded them. This attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction not only garnered us more patronage but also positively impacted our bottom line. My personal passion lies in upholding these standards and continuing to refine and improve them. In retrospect, diving into the transport industry was a decision that I hold in high regard. The sector is labor-intensive, which means it creates numerous job opportunities. Beyond the financial benefits and the satisfaction of our shareholders, there's a deeper reward in knowing that we provide a high-quality service that resonates with our customers. So, to answer your question succinctly: yes, I wholeheartedly have no regrets about venturing into the transport domain.What is the one big cost in bus transport that you would pay anything to change?The overall cost of doing business in the bus transport sector has escalated over time due to various factors. One prominent example is the replication of entry fees as buses move across inter-county borders. We also face substantial parking fees at designated stopovers where we pick up and drop off passengers and parcels.On a more operational level, regular expenditures include refreshments for passengers and crew, quick cleaning routines for our buses, and the maintenance checks for essentials like oil and water levels. Additionally, unavoidable increases in the cost of fuel, spare parts, and tires, along with wage increments and other mandatory deductions, significantly contribute to our operating costs.While we understand and accept the necessity of certain inflationary increases, the random and unanticipated cost escalations can exert an unwarranted negative impact on our operations. As a company, our policy restricts us from randomly hiking fares to compensate for these rising costs. Therefore, if there were one cost in bus transport that I would pay anything to change, it would be these unpredictable and disproportionate increases in operational costs. Ideally, we would work towards creating a more stable and predictable cost environment, which would ultimately benefit both our company and our customers.What is your take on electric buses and future plans?Electric vehicles are indeed the way of the future. They present an environmentally-friendly solution that aligns with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. I absolutely recognise and support this transition. However, for long-distance public service vehicles (PSVs), there are certain unique considerations and challenges that must be taken into account before such a transition can be fully executed. Key among these considerations is the range of the vehicle - that is, the distance it can travel on a single charge. This is particularly crucial for long-haul services, where buses are expected to cover extensive distances without frequent interruptions. Furthermore, the infrastructure to support electric vehicles, specifically the availability and accessibility of charging stations along the routes, is not yet at a level where a seamless transition can be made.Once these two critical issues are addressed and electric buses become more reliable for long-distance travel, we absolutely intend to integrate them into our fleet, starting with our intra-city routes. This decision is not only based on the environmental benefits but also the potential for cost savings in the long run, as electric vehicles, typically have lower operational costs compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. The transition to electric buses for inter-city routes might take a bit more time due to the aforementioned challenges. However, we remain open and enthusiastic about this prospect. We're closely following technological advancements and infrastructure developments in this area. We're also exploring partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturers and energy companies to ensure we're ready to move forward when the time is right. In a nutshell, our goal at Easy Coach is to consistently deliver safe, reliable, and now more sustainable, transportation solutions. So yes, the future of our fleet certainly includes electric buses, and we're actively working towards making this a reality.How did you survive the Covid-19 period?The pandemic has been an unprecedented global crisis, and it certainly took a toll on our operations as well. Our profits diminished drastically, and our reserves were significantly depleted during this challenging period. However, it was important for us to make strategic decisions that ensured our business's survival while also taking care of our employees.In response to the crisis, we had to scale down our staff. But rather than making them redundant, we chose