Laban Okune, (Right) Ma3Route CEO/Founder, Winner of Pivot East 2013

"We all know how unpredictably infuriating Nairobi traffic can get; smooth and rosy on one turn, and then - bam! - a nightmare gridlock on the next. A 2017 report ranked Nairobi second, behind Mumbai, amongst global cities with the worst traffic jams. It's in this painfully slow Kenyan reality that Ma3Route, a crowd-sourced platform providing real time road updates, has grown to become a daily part of every Kenyan commuter's life. Ma3Route's disruptive technology, explosive growth, and solid social media presence makes it one of the most fascinating tech companies of its kind to emerge in Kenya since the turn of the decade".KENYABUZZ: What's the story behind Ma3Route? How'd it all start?Ma3Route: With our founder Laban Okune. Soon after graduating university, he did what we all do - pounded the pavement, job hunting around Nairobi. He got lost severally and wished there was an easier way to know which matatu route to take to different areas of the city. The seed for Ma3Route was sown.KENYABUZZ: I just landed from Mars and need a quick Ma3Route beginner's guide for dummies.Ma3Route: Get a phone with internet connection, get on to twitter, and search for the Ma3Route community. Or, download the Ma3Route app on Play Store and get all the information you need.KENYABUZZ: Where do you get most of your traffic from? (No pun intended)Ma3Route: Motorized & non-motorized road users.KENYABUZZ: Which platform is the most interactive for Ma3Route?Ma3Route: Twitter.KENYABUZZ: Ma3route has grown in leaps since 2012. How different is it now from when you started?Ma3Route: In the beginning a lot of the hard work went into proving ourselves, but now the brand is very easily identifiable. It speaks for itself.KENYABUZZ: How does the company make its money?Ma3Route: We make our revenues from online advertising, API model & traffic SMS alerts.KENYABUZZ: What's it like working at Ma3 Route?Ma3Route: It's very chill, very Kenyan.KENYABUZZ: In 2014, Ma3Route won the Kenya Vision 2030 ICT Innovation award. Tell us about that.Ma3Route: Crowd sourcing was largely uncharted territory in the country and Ma3Route proved this possible. Our platform uses ICT to collect and share information.KENYABUZZ: Here's an idea, how about a matatu ride sharing feature. If anyone can do it, it's you guys. We want royalties, LOL.Ma3Route: That would be interesting...KENYABUZZ: What can we expect from Ma3 Route in 2019?Ma3Route: More focus on growing the reach in other major counties.

Quick Fire

The most chaotic traffic: Jogoo road or Mombasa road?Definitely Mombasa Road.Chock-a-block traffic: Monday morning or Friday evening?Monday morning, the pressure is off on Friday.Who has the most lit ma3's:  Rongai or Buru Buru?Rongai nganyas! *Photo: Courtesy