She Can Drive Kenya: Building A Community For Women Car Owners

According to Roselyne, the only thing that saves her from getting bullied on Kenyan roads is her masculine looks. “When I’m in the car, it’s not easy for someone to know whether I am a lady or a man. It helps a lot.” But once the other drivers realize she’s a lady, they say “Game on!” When her gender fails her, she has to rely on the status symbol associated with her car, an SUV, to get her way. 

Roselyne isn’t alone. If she was driving a “kadudu,” she would experience the kind of harassment most lady drivers get on Kenyan roads. It doesn’t end there. It is widely believed that women and cars don’t mix, despite women making up the majority of car buyers (and generally being better drivers than men). 

Even when it comes to car servicing and maintenance, garages and service providers see women car owners as an opportunity to do a heist. 

“One of my friend’s mechanics would put a biro pen tube inside the windshield water tube and charge her 6,000 shillings to “replace” it. This went on for a while until my hubby and I decided to have a look at the car. The damn thing costs less than 1,000 shillings. It didn’t even need replacing in the first place! How many women are getting scammed in such manners?” Lindsey, the founder of She Can Drive Kenya asks.

These, among other challenges faced by women car owners in Kenya, are what drove her to found She Can Drive Kenya. 

“At times when we break down in the middle of nowhere, we let these random guys who crowd your car help out instead of telling them you can deal with the problem yourself. Not because we believe they know our cars better than us but because we believe it’s safer to let them scam you out of a few hundreds or thousands of shillings. We often have to make decisions based on our safety,” she says. 

In recent years, Kenya has witnessed a significant increase in the number of women car owners. As more and more women take the wheel, Lindsey feels there’s a need to build a community that provides women drivers with a platform to connect, share experiences, and support one another. The goal is to change the perception of women car owners in Kenya, help women establish their presence on the road, and have them seen as drivers rather than just passengers. 

Women are now challenging societal norms, buying cars, and taking control of their mobility. She Can Drive Kenya wants to be at the forefront of this paradigm shift. 

“We want to make the woman’s journey in the driving world a lot easier and to provide a safe space for women car owners. Even for women who don’t own cars yet but occasionally find themselves driving, they need to their stuff- basics such as changing a wheel and getting the right wipers for your car,” Lindsey explains. 

She Can Drive Kenya started one year ago as a small social media forum for women drivers to come together, exchange knowledge, and foster a sense of community. But it’s gaining momentum and attracting women from all walks of life who share a common passion for cars and driving. Shlee, the She Can Drive Kenya YouTube host, boasts more knowledge about cars than the average guy. But even for her, she still has to deal with the misconception that ladies know zilch when it comes to cars. At one point, a man offered to reverse her car out of the parking lot for her. There was also a time a traffic officer stopped her and he couldn’t believe she was driving a Volkswagen Golf- a “manly” car. 

“She Can Drive Kenya gives me the opportunity to interact and network with other women drivers doing “manly” things on the road. It feels nice knowing I’m not alone on that journey. We want to figure things out for ourselves as women drivers.”

Moreover, She Can Drive Kenya serves as a platform for sharing stories and experiences. Members often recount their journeys as women drivers, discussing the challenges they face and the triumphs they achieve. This open dialogue helps to break down stereotypes and empowers other women who may be hesitant to take the wheel. Through their shared experiences, members of She Can Drive Kenya hopes to reshape societal perceptions and encourage more women to embrace car ownership.

The goal for She Can Drive Kenya is to evolve into a movement that champions for equality and empowerment of women drivers in Kenya. It aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for women to learn about their cars and build their self-assurance on the road so that they can become more confident drivers. As the community grows and expands, it hopes to organize regular workshops and training sessions where members can enhance their knowledge of car mechanics, basic maintenance, and defensive driving techniques. These initiatives not only equip women drivers with valuable skills but also help them to overcome most challenges they face on the road.

She Can Drive Kenya is also actively getting involved in promoting road safety among its members. It’s looking at collaborating with local authorities and organizations to raise awareness about road safety by organizing road safety campaigns, distributing educational materials, and hosting events to encourage responsible driving behaviors. 

Beyond the practical aspects of car ownership, She Can Drive Kenya is also aiming at fostering a sense of companionship and friendship among its members. Lindsey believes that the community can become a sisterhood that extends beyond the realm of driving, providing emotional support and encouragement in all areas of life.

“Our community isn’t just limited to experienced drivers. We also welcome women who are new to the world of car ownership.” 

“For first-time drivers in Kenya, the experience can be quite scary. When I bought my first car, my husband would come all the way from Thika Road to Kawangware just to drive me to work and then pick me up from work again in the evening until I was confident and comfortable enough to drive on my own,” Shlee says.

For Lindsey, her first time driving ended with her forgetting to fuel the car and it being towed from Haile Sellasie roundabout to the Shell petrol station at Serena, along Uhuru Highway, yet there’s a petrol station right next to the Haile Sellasie roundabout. The towing guys charged me 2,500 shillings and damaged my car’s axle. After that, she would pay her company’s driver to pick her up and drop her from work for some time. 

“We’re looking to help first-time drivers overcome such fears, especially those that don’t have a man to hold their hands in the initial stages of car ownership,” she adds.  

If you’re a lady car owner looking for a community to share your car ownership experience with, She Can Drive Kenya is your go-to space. You can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or subscribe to their YouTube channel for educational, women-inspired car content.