When Lenny first moved to Nairobi in 2017, he quickly realized how challenging the city’s traffic could be. Watching boda bodas effortlessly navigate the congestion inspired him to get his own motorcycle.
One hungover Sunday, he bought a boda boda, and from that moment, he was hooked. The freedom and independence of riding through Nairobi and the surrounding countryside were immensely liberating. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to share this experience with others, leading to the creation of iRideNairobi.
Initially an online business, iRideNairobi opened its first office at The Alchemist in Westlands, Nairobi, in March 2020.
At the heart of iRideNairobi is a desire to build a financially independent African business that creates employment in East Africa and shares a passion for travel, the outdoors, and the thrill of motorcycle riding. As a start-up, we aim to disrupt the motorcycle tourism and logistics industries in Nairobi and East Africa.
We believe in innovation while remaining realistic about market expectations. Our goal is to integrate with the local community, employ Kenyans, and blend modern management principles with a local flavor.
Ultimately, we strive to offer excellent and reliable service, enabling people from around the world to safely enjoy the wonders of Nairobi, Kenya, and Africa.
Meet Lenny, a global citizen with a passion for biking and entrepreneurship. Born in Germany and having lived in 10 countries, Lenny founded iRideNairobi in 2017. Despite his full-time role at the United Nations, Lenny provides guidance and vision, ensuring the venture remains true to its roots.
For Lenny, it’s about sharing the love for biking and the unique experience of building a business in Africa.
Vincent is a Certified Public Accountant with 10+ years of experience in finance, accounting, audit, and tax advisory. In other words, if numbers could talk, they’d probably ask for his advice. Equal parts financial strategist and professional ship captain, Vince runs a tight operation and has helped take iRideNairobi to the next level as General Manager. After years of watching others in the driver’s seat, he’s developed a serious urge to grab the handlebars himself.
Brian is our motorcycle fleet manager extraordinaire — the man who keeps the wheels turning and the fleet behaving itself. From maintenance scheduling to route optimization, he makes sure every bike is ready to roll and every ride runs smoothly. He also has that slightly suspicious mechanic superpower of knowing exactly where the problem is before the bike has even finished complaining.
Irene is the calm in the chaos. With over five years of experience in customer service, management, and team leadership, she has a real gift for making people feel looked after while keeping the team aligned and on track. Reliable, thoughtful, and always composed, Irene is a big part of what keeps both our customers and our operations feeling smooth.
Francis may be one of the newer faces on the team, but he’s already become a favorite with everyone around him. Always cheerful, dependable, and steady as they come, he brings exactly the kind of energy you want in a garage. With more than five years working at the Kibo factory in Nairobi, Francis it seems can assemble a Kibo in his sleep.
Benedicto is 53 and Bukoba, Tanzania. He has been living in Kangemi, Nairobi, for 24 years. He is a widower with two kids and a veritable delivery expert. He knows every back alley in Nairobi and handles errands for iRideNairobi.Â
