It was a night like any other on Nairobi’s restless streets: taxis honking, matatus flying past, and the hum of a city that never truly sleeps. A weary commuter, eager to get home, opened her taxi-hailing app and ordered a ride. Within minutes, a friendly driver arrived in a clean Toyota, greeting her with that easy Kenyan warmth.
For the first few minutes, everything felt normal. They chatted about traffic, joked about fuel prices, and shared a laugh about Nairobi weather. But halfway through the trip, things took a strange turn. The driver’s cheerful energy began to fade. His eyes drooped. His words slurred. Then came a line no passenger ever expects to hear:
“Mama, I’m tired… actually, I’m a bit drunk. Can you drive?”
Now, now,This is the real Customer service week. Kenya is one unserious country. 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/L52Mla0TjD
Startled but oddly composed, the passenger who thankfully knew how to drive took over, navigating Nairobi’s chaotic streets at midnight. Boda bodas zoomed past, traffic lights flickered, and her “driver” snored softly beside her.
Incredibly, she made it through the city, dropping the inebriated cab driver before heading home safely.
The bizarre incident, captured on TikTok, has since gone viral, not just for the humor, but for the uncomfortable truth it exposes. Behind the laughter lies the crushing reality of gig economy workers in Kenya: long hours, low pay, and impossible targets that push some drivers to the edge of exhaustion and poor judgment.
The passenger got home shaken but safe. A reluctant hero in a story that could only happen in Nairobi, where survival and madness often share the same ride.
