Rainy Season Driving: Safety and Earnings During Kenya's Wet Months

The first heavy drops of the long rains started falling just as I was crossing Globe Cinema roundabout.

Within minutes, the road was a sheet of water. Visibility dropped to near zero. My wiper blades, which I’d been meaning to replace for weeks, were just smearing the water across the windscreen.

I was tense. My shoulders were hunched over the steering wheel, my eyes straining to see the car in front of me. Every driver around me seemed to forget how to drive. Matatus were cutting across lanes, and boda bodas were weaving through traffic like they were invincible.

My client in the back, a woman heading to Lavington, was quiet. But I could feel her anxiety. My clean, tidy Toyota Aqua, my pride and joy, felt more like a small boat in a stormy sea than a car.

That 7-kilometer trip took over an hour. By the end of it, I was mentally exhausted. And all I could think about was the KSh 200 I had to spend on a car wash just to make my car look presentable for the next ride.

The Rainy Season: A Driver's Double-Edged Sword

When the skies open up in Kenya, it changes everything.

For us drivers, the rain brings a surge in demand. Suddenly, everyone needs a ride. No one wants to walk. No one wants to wait for a matatu. Our phones start buzzing with requests.

It feels like a golden opportunity.

But it’s a trap if you’re not prepared. The same rain that brings a flood of customers also brings a flood of problems. Traffic grinds to a halt. Roads become treacherous. Your clean car becomes a muddy mess in minutes. And the hidden costs start piling up.

You're caught in a frustrating battle. You want to cash in on the high demand, but the stress, the risks, and the unexpected expenses can quickly wash away your extra profits. You end up working harder, not smarter, and your earnings suffer.

From Surviving to Thriving: Your Rainy Season Game Plan

You can’t control the weather.

But you can control how you prepare for it.

The most successful drivers don’t just survive the rainy season; they have a strategy to thrive in it. They turn the challenges into opportunities by focusing on two key areas: preparation and smart decision-making.

Part 1: Prepare Your Vehicle (Your Ark)

Your car is your most important business asset. During the rainy season, it’s also your shield. Neglecting its basic needs is like going into a storm with a leaking roof. Before the season kicks off, create a simple checklist.

• Wiper Blades are Your Best Friends: This is the cheapest and most critical upgrade you can make. Worn-out wipers are a massive safety hazard. A new, quality pair costs around KSh 1,000 – KSh 1,500. They will give you clear visibility, reducing your stress and the risk of an accident.
• Check Your Tyres' Tread: Bald tyres and wet roads are a recipe for disaster. Your tyres need good tread to grip the road and prevent aquaplaning (sliding uncontrollably on a thin layer of water). If your tread is low, it's time to invest in new or good-quality second-hand tyres. Your safety, and that of your passengers, depends on it.
• Test Your Lights: In a downpour, visibility is low for everyone. Ensure your headlights, taillights, and brake lights are all working perfectly. They help other drivers see you, which is just as important as you seeing them.
• Pack a Rainy Day Kit: Keep a few extra items in your car. A good umbrella for your clients is a thoughtful touch that earns you high ratings. A couple of extra floor mats can help keep your car's interior clean. A microfibre cloth is perfect for quickly wiping down a foggy windscreen.

Part 2: Drive for Safety, Not Just Speed

When the rain is pouring, your driving style has to change. The goal is no longer to get there as fast as possible. The goal is to get there safely.

• Increase Your Following Distance: The roads are slick. Your car will take longer to stop. Double the usual distance between you and the car in front. This gives you more time to react to sudden stops.
• Reduce Your Speed: It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you’re chasing the next fare. Driving slower gives your tyres a better chance to grip the road and reduces the risk of aquaplaning.
• Beware of Puddles: You never know what’s hiding in a large puddle. It could be a deep, tyre-destroying pothole. As highlighted by authorities like the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), it's best to avoid driving through standing water whenever possible. If you must, do it slowly and carefully.
• Stay Focused: Turn down the Gospel or Reggae music. Avoid distracting conversations. The rainy season demands your full attention on the road.

Part 3: Protect Your Profit Margin

The rain brings opportunities, but it also brings costs. If you don't track them, you could end up earning less than you do on a sunny day.

• Factor in the "Rain Tax": This is my term for the extra, unavoidable costs. You’ll be spending more on car washes. Your fuel consumption will increase because of the heavy traffic. You might even have to fix a puncture from a hidden pothole. These are real business expenses.
• Track Everything with RiderPal: This is where being a business-minded driver makes all the difference. Every time you pay for that KSh 200 car wash, log it as an expense in the RiderPal app. When you notice you're filling up your tank more often, you can see that reflected in your fuel efficiency reports. The app shows you the true cost of driving in the rain. This data is power. It helps you understand if the high-surge fares are actually covering your increased operational costs.
• Be Selective with Your Rides: Not all rainy-day trips are created equal. A high-surge trip into a known flood-prone area or a notorious traffic jam spot might not be worth it. Your RiderPal data can help you identify your most profitable routes and times, even in bad weather. Combine this with the strategies from our Peak Hours Analysis to make the smartest choices.

Your Rainy Day Checklist

Don't leave it to chance. Use a simple checklist to make sure you're prepared. You can even write it down and keep it in your glove compartment.

Don't Just Weather the Storm, Master It

The rainy season is a test.

It tests your patience, your skill, and your business strategy.

Many drivers will see the rain and decide to stay home. Others will rush out unprepared and end up losing money to stress and unexpected costs. But the professional driver, the one who prepares their vehicle and their mindset, will see the opportunity.

The rain doesn't have to be your enemy.

Prepare for it, respect it, and track it.

When you do, you’ll find that the rainy season can be one of the most profitable times of the year.

Ready to turn rainy days into paydays? Download RiderPal to track your expenses, understand your true profit, and make smarter decisions, no matter the weather.