Taxify has announced its entry into Mombasa, its second city after launching in Nairobi in July last year. This move puts pressure on market leader Uber which also operates in the city.

Shivachi Muleji, Mombasa Operations Manager, said, "Mombasa is a huge and thriving marketplace for private urban transport. We're very excited to launch here and are confident that Taxify can effectively contribute to healthy competition by improving the quality of service and lowering the prices for the end customer".

The launch in Mombasa will see introductory prices at 50 % off the normal fares for the month of September.

Mombasa riders will now pay Kshs 100 minimum fare price, Kshs 21 per kilometre and Kshs 1.5 charge per minute.

Taxify also announced that it was lowering its prices for September in Nairobi to a 20% discount on fares. This has resulted in Uber offering same promotional fare discounts to its subscribers.

The two companies have been running promotional discounts for riders since May this year in what has been seen as a price war.

Taxify takes 15% from its affiliate drivers, compared to Uber which cuts 25%.

The Estonia- based company is preferred by drivers who do not qualify to be contracted by Uber.