Zidi Terms of Use

Last updated 12 October 2026

About Zidi and these terms

Zidi is a marketplace: it connects people who rent cars ("renters") with people who rent out their own cars ("hosts"). Zidi Mobility Ltd ("Zidi", "we") checks IDs, runs bookings, takes payments and pays hosts; the car belongs to the host. The rental contract is between renter and host, with Zidi as agent.

These terms apply to everyone who uses the Zidi Rentals app, the Zidi Host app or zidimobility.co.ke. Each host's own rules for their car ("host terms") also apply to bookings of that car.

To use Zidi you must be at least 21, have a Kenyan phone number, and pass Zidi's ID check. To rent a car you must also hold a valid driving licence held for at least 2 years.

Your account and ID check

You sign in with your phone number and a code we text you. You may have one account, in your own name, and you are responsible for what happens on it.

• Give true details. The name on your account must match your ID.
• Renters upload their ID (both sides), driving licence and a selfie before their first booking request. Hosts do the same before their first withdrawal.
• Zidi's team reviews every ID and may approve it, ask for better photos, or decline it.
• At pick-up, the host checks your original ID against the name and the last 4 characters of the ID number shown in their app.
• Hosts withdraw only to an M-Pesa number registered in their own name. If the M-Pesa name differs from the ID, Zidi checks it before the next withdrawal.

Keep your phone and sign-in codes to yourself. Tell Zidi at once if you think someone else is using your account.

Booking a car

A booking is confirmed only once the host has approved it and you have paid in full. Until then, nothing is charged and you can withdraw the request.

1. Choose a car and your pick-up and return times. The app shows the full price before you ask, and you accept the host's terms with the request.
2. The host has 10 minutes to approve or decline. If they don't answer in time, the request lapses at no cost.
3. Once approved, you have 10 minutes to pay by M-Pesa or card. If you don't, the car is released for others.
4. When you have paid in full, the booking is confirmed, the dates are held for you, and both of you get a text with the pick-up details.

If you pay after the time runs out and the car is still free, the booking is confirmed. If the dates were taken meanwhile, you get a full refund.

Prices, fees and payment

The renter pays the host's rental plus Zidi's service fee of KES 50 a day; the host receives 91% of the rental. All prices are in Kenya shillings and shown before you confirm.

Renters pay through the M-Pesa prompt in the app, up to KES 250,000 per prompt, or by card on Paystack's secure page. Pay only through the app: Zidi never asks you to send money to a phone number.

If you pay twice for the same booking, the extra payment is refunded automatically. Zidi pays the M-Pesa fees on refunds.

Cancellations and refunds

Renters can cancel for free until 24 hours before pick-up, or until 2 hours before pick-up for bookings made less than 24 hours ahead. After that, one day's rental goes to the host and the rest is refunded. The app shows the exact free cancellation time before you pay.

• A card fee is never refunded, because the card company keeps it.
• An unpaid request can be withdrawn at any time at no cost.
• Once the pick-up time has passed or the keys are handed over, the booking can't be cancelled in the app; contact Zidi.
• Refunds go back the way you paid: to the M-Pesa number that paid, or to your card. Card refunds can take several working days to show at your bank.
• After reviewing a problem, Zidi may cancel a booking and refund it, or release the host's money.

Pick-up

The renter gets 30 minutes after the keys are handed over to check the car, and can reject it for a full refund if it isn't as described. The host is paid once the renter accepts, or once the 30 minutes pass.

1. The renter brings their original ID and driving licence to the agreed place at the pick-up time.
2. The host checks the ID against the details in their app, then taps Keys ready (possible from 2 hours before pick-up). If the ID doesn't match, the host doesn't hand over the car and Zidi reviews the booking.
3. The renter has 30 minutes to look the car over.
4. If the car is as described, the renter accepts it and the host's money is released.
5. If it isn't, the renter rejects it within the 30 minutes, with a reason and at least 2 photos. The booking is cancelled with a full refund.
6. If the renter neither accepts nor rejects in time, the car counts as accepted.

No-shows. From an hour after the pick-up time, a host can report a renter who didn't come: the host is paid and nothing is refunded. A renter can report a host who didn't hand over the car: the renter gets a full refund. Zidi reviews any report that is disputed.

Repeated problems. A renter who rejects cars twice within 60 days is reviewed by Zidi. A car that is rejected repeatedly may be paused until Zidi has checked it.

During the trip and at return

The renter must look after the car, follow the host's terms, and return it on time in the condition they received it. Normal wear is expected.

• Only the renter drives the car.
• Drive lawfully and safely: never under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Use the car for personal travel only: no subletting, ride-hailing, paid transport, racing or towing.
• Follow the host's terms, such as returning the same fuel level or not smoking.
• Don't take the car outside Kenya or outside an area the host sets.
• Return the car to the agreed place on time. Rental counts per 24 hours with a free hour at return; a host's terms may set a fee for returning later.
• Traffic fines, parking fees and tolls during the rental are the renter's to pay.
• Report any accident, breakdown, damage or theft to the host and Zidi at once, and to the police where the law requires.

Hosts

Hosts must list only cars they may rent out, keep them safe and legal, and hand them over as described. Zidi pays hosts 91% of the rental to their M-Pesa.

• Describe the car accurately, with recent photos. Zidi inspects every car before it goes live and may pause a listing at any time.
• Keep the car roadworthy, licensed, inspected and insured with comprehensive cover.
• Your host terms are shown to renters and accepted with each request. Don't charge anything outside Zidi, or take payment outside the app.
• Answer requests within 10 minutes. Hand over the car at the agreed time and place, after checking the renter's ID.
• Your earnings show as pending once the renter pays. They become available when the renter accepts the car, when the 30 minutes pass, or after you report a renter no-show.
• If a renter cancels after the free cancellation time, one day's rental, less Zidi's 9%, goes straight to your wallet.
• Withdraw from KES 10 up to KES 150,000 at a time, to an M-Pesa number in your own name, once Zidi has verified your ID. Safaricom's fee comes off the amount and is shown before you confirm.

Damage, accidents and insurance

Zidi is not responsible for any claims involving car theft, damage or loss as it only operates as a Car Rental Marketplace and does not own cars listed on the marketplace. The contracts signed in the app are between the renter and host. Zidi may, however, intervene if accidents or damage affects the safety of the general public or the renter.

• Cover. Every car must carry comprehensive insurance that allows self-drive hire. Many private policies exclude hire, so each host should make sure their insurance covers it.
• Renter's share. The renter pays for damage, loss or theft during the rental up to KES 100,000 per incident (the excess fee). They pay the full cost if they broke these terms or the host's terms, for example an unlisted driver, drink-driving or a banned use.
• Evidence. The condition at pick-up is recorded with photos in the app, and damage must be reported within 2 hours.
• Disputes. Zidi reviews the photos and reports from both sides; the renter and host settle damage costs between them.

Pausing or closing accounts

Zidi may pause or close an account, or a car's listing, to protect other users. Before acting on an automatic flag, Zidi's team reviews it.

Reasons include false details or documents, fraud or attempted fraud, paying or being paid outside the app, unsafe or illegal use of a car, repeated no-shows or rejections, and unpaid amounts owed to Zidi or another user.

You can close your account at any time by contacting Zidi. Money owed to you is still paid out, and bookings already confirmed are settled under these terms first.

Liability, disputes and changes

These terms are governed by the laws of Kenya. If something goes wrong, contact Zidi first; we aim to resolve it within 14 days.

• Responsibility. Hosts are responsible for their cars and renters for how they use them.
• Disputes. If Zidi can't resolve a dispute, it goes to mediation, then the courts of Kenya.
• Changes. We may update these terms. We'll tell you by text or in the apps 3 days before a change takes effect. A booking already confirmed stays under the terms that applied when it was made.

Contact: Zidi Mobility Ltd, 30100, Eldoret, Kenya. Email support@zidimobility.co.ke, phone 0715296479.