Starting a tuk-tuk business in Garissa County

Passenger work

Town routes, market, university, hospital

Cargo work

Livestock market goods, river farm produce, water

Models to compare

Champion CH250, CH300, Baxy Express

Plan for

Intense heat, sand and dust, long service trips

Where the passenger work is

Tuk-tuks in Garissa carry passengers between the town centre, the markets, the hospital, Garissa University, government offices and the estates on both sides of the river. Bus arrivals from Nairobi and the north create busy hours. Families use tuk-tuks for shopping and school runs, and private hire is common for visits and events.

Cargo: livestock, farms and water

The livestock market draws traders from across the north-east, and goods, feed and supplies move around it every day. Farms along the Tana River grow bananas, mangoes, watermelons and vegetables for the town and for buyers further south. Water delivery is steady work, and shops need restocking from wholesalers. The Champion CH250 and CH300 suit these loads.

Heat, sand and dust

Garissa is hot all year. Water-cooled engines, such as those in the Champion CH250 and CH300, cope better with loaded days in the heat. Sandy roads off the tarmac call for ground clearance and care with loading. Dust wears air filters and brakes quickly, so service on schedule. The nearest MRL location is a long drive away, so keep basic spares and the spare wheel and jack with you.

Choosing your first tuk-tuk in Garissa County

Start by deciding whether you will carry people or goods. In Garissa County, passenger work centres on town routes, market, university, hospital, while cargo work centres on livestock market goods, river farm produce, water. Many owners pick the side of the trade they already know, or where they have regular customers lined up.

For local conditions, the models to compare first are Champion CH250, CH300, Baxy Express. Each vehicle page shows the cash price and key specs, and the comparison page puts them side by side. Before you buy, ask the branch about running costs, spares and which model other owners in your area use.

Getting on the road in Garissa County

A tuk-tuk that carries paying passengers is a public service vehicle. It needs NTSA registration, a PSV licence and commercial PSV insurance, and the driver needs a valid licence for three-wheelers. NTSA expects PSV operators to belong to a registered SACCO or company, and most stages have their own association with its own fees and rules. Cargo tuk-tuks need registration and commercial insurance.

Garissa County charges for business permits and, in many towns, stage or parking fees. Rules and fees change, so confirm current requirements with NTSA and the Garissa County offices before you set your budget.

Plan for more than the price of the vehicle. Your first budget should cover registration, insurance, licences, SACCO membership, basic spares, and fuel or charging for the first weeks while you build regular customers.

Driving it yourself or hiring a driver

Some owners drive their own tuk-tuk. Others buy one and employ a driver. If you hire, agree the terms in writing: the daily or weekly amount the driver hands over, who pays for fuel and minor repairs, rest days, and what happens after an accident. Keep service records, because they help if you ever need to make a warranty claim.

Your nearest MRL location

The nearest MRL location to Garissa County is Otis Company Ltd (Thika) in Thika, Kiambu County. It is an MRL Authorised Dealer, an independent company authorised by MRL Motors to sell and support MRL vehicles. Call or WhatsApp before you travel to confirm stock and colour, and ask which spares are worth keeping with you if you work far from the branch.

Bring your questions about documents and which model suits your work. Financing applications are handled by MRL Finance at mrlfinance.com.