If you have ever typed Northways shuttle into Google and ended up scrolling through airport vans in America, a university campus bus and a handful of North Rift Shuttle pages, you already know the problem. Northways shuttle is a name Nairobi travellers mention at the stage, yet hardly anyone has written down what it actually offers.
This guide sets out to change that. We checked the public listings, news reports and fare comparison sites, and we kept to one rule throughout: if something could not be confirmed, we say so instead of guessing. That matters because shuttle fares, phone lines and routes in Kenya change quickly, and a wrong number or an invented fare can cost you a seat, or even a whole day. Below you will find what is publicly known about this operator, how to reach the Nairobi office, what to ask before you pay, and what other shuttles on the same corridor charge, so that you have a fair benchmark in your pocket.
Northways Shuttle Nairobi
Northways shuttle is listed as a transport agent in Nairobi Central, and its base is a part of town that every western Kenya traveller knows well: Mfangano Street. This is the busy strip of the CBD where shuttle and matatu offices sit shoulder to shoulder, loading passengers for Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale, Bungoma and the towns beyond. North Rift Shuttle and Great Rift Shuttle, two of the better-known names on that corridor, also operate around Mfangano Lane, so it is easy to compare options on foot before you commit. We cover both in our guides to North Rift Shuttle contacts and destinations and Great Rift Shuttle destinations and contacts.
What kind of vehicle should you expect? The only description we could find comes from a Daily Nation report, which referred to a 14-seater Northways shuttle. That matches the usual picture of intercity shuttles in Kenya: a high-roof 14-seater van that leaves once it is full, rather than a large coach running to a printed timetable. Carry a power bank, because small shuttles rarely have charging ports, and pack something warm if you are heading towards Eldoret, since the Timboroa stretch is one of the coldest points on any Kenyan highway.
One thing to keep in mind is that the directory entry we found is marked as an unverified business. That is common for small transport offices in the CBD and does not mean anything is wrong, but it is the reason we suggest calling ahead the first time you travel with this operator.
Northways Shuttle Offices
The only office address that appears in public records for this operator is Information House, ground floor, Mfangano Street, Nairobi Central. That puts it in the same stretch of the CBD as the other western Kenya shuttle offices, which is handy if you want to walk between counters and compare fares and departure times.
We found no published branch offices in Eldoret, Kitale, Nakuru or any other town. Bigger operators such as North Rift Shuttle publish a list of offices town by town, but nothing comparable exists for this operator. In practice, this means you should plan to board in Nairobi. If you are travelling towards Nairobi from the Rift Valley or western Kenya, call first and ask exactly where the vehicle will pick you up.
When you walk into the office, ask for Northways by name and check that the vehicle you are about to board carries the same name. It sounds obvious, but with dozens of similar-looking vans loading at once, boarding the wrong one is easier than you would think.
Northways Shuttle Contacts
Northways shuttle contacts are thin on the ground. The only channel we could find is a single phone line listed against the Mfangano Street office. We did not find an official website or a public email address.
That is worth knowing for two reasons. First, if the phone is your only link to the business, keep the call short and clear, and always follow up with a visit or a receipt before you hand over money. Second, thin contact details are exactly where scammers thrive. If you see a social media post offering seats and asking for an M-Pesa deposit to a personal number, treat it as a red flag until the Nairobi office has confirmed it.
If anything goes wrong on a trip, such as overloading, reckless driving or a refusal to refund a ticket for a trip that never left, you can report the matter to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which regulates public service vehicles in Kenya.
Northways Shuttle Phone Number
The number listed for Northways shuttle is 0721 179 000, or +254 721 179 000 in international format. Because the listing is unverified, treat it as a starting point rather than a guarantee, and save it in your phone only after a successful call.
When you get through, these are the questions worth asking:
- Which towns are running today?
- What time does the next vehicle leave, and does it wait until it is full?
- What is the exact fare to my stop, one way?
- Where exactly will I be dropped off?
- How much luggage can I carry, and is there a fee for extra bags?
- Do you accept M-Pesa, and will I get a receipt?
Write down the name of the person you spoke to and the time of your call. If the line is off or goes unanswered, do not rely on it for a same-day trip. Walk to the Information House office instead.
Northways Shuttle Routes
Here is what we can and cannot say about Northways shuttle routes. The one solid clue is the Daily Nation’s January 2024 report of a crash at Twin Bridge near Mau Summit on the Nakuru–Eldoret highway, which involved a 14-seater Northways shuttle. That tells us these vehicles have run on the road between Nakuru and Eldoret, the backbone of the corridor serving Kitale, Bungoma and the border towns of western Kenya.
What we could not find is a published route list. So we will not tell you that Northways shuttle goes to Kitale or Bungoma, because we cannot prove it. Ask the office which destinations are running on the day you want to travel.
For planning, it helps to know what the corridor looks like. Nairobi to Eldoret is about 315 km and usually takes roughly five to six hours, depending on traffic around Nakuru and roadworks near Timboroa. Most trips stop briefly in Nakuru. If you are going beyond Eldoret, add another ninety minutes to two hours.
Always confirm your drop-off point before paying. Some passengers on this corridor have reported shuttles ending a trip earlier than advertised, as we noted in our North Rift Shuttle guide, so one simple question at the counter can save you a long wait by the roadside.
Northways Shuttle Fares
No fare list for Northways shuttle has been published anywhere we could find, so we cannot give you a figure, and anyone who quotes one with confidence is guessing. What we can give you is a benchmark. The table below shows typical normal-season fares charged by North Rift Shuttle, a comparable operator on the same corridor, as reported in our own guide. Use it to judge whether the price quoted at the counter is in a sensible range.
| Route | Typical shuttle fare (normal season) |
|---|---|
| Nairobi – Nakuru | Ksh 700 – Ksh 900 |
| Nairobi – Eldoret | Ksh 1,200 – Ksh 1,500 |
| Nairobi – Kitale | Ksh 1,500 – Ksh 2,000 |
| Nairobi – Bungoma | Ksh 1,500 – Ksh 1,700 |
Benchmark fares from another operator, not its own prices.
Season matters. Over Christmas, Easter and school opening weeks, fares on the Eldoret leg can climb to around Ksh 2,500. For comparison, fare listings for Easy Coach on the Nairobi–Eldoret route show roughly Ksh 1,550 to Ksh 1,700, which gives you a rough ceiling for a bigger bus on an ordinary day.
A few habits help you pay a fair price. Ask whether the quoted fare is one way or return. Ask for the total to your exact stop, not just the nearest big town. Call or visit one other shuttle office before you pay, because comparing two quotes takes five minutes and can save you a few hundred shillings.
Northways Shuttle Booking
There is no official booking process for this operator that we could confirm. Shuttle offices of this type along Mfangano usually work on phone enquiries and walk-in tickets, as we described in our North Rift Shuttle guide, and seats are not always guaranteed over the phone once a vehicle starts filling up. Here is a sensible way to go about it:
- Call 0721 179 000 and ask about your travel day and time.
- Arrive at the Information House office 30 to 45 minutes before you want to leave. Shuttles usually depart once full, so arriving early gets you an earlier departure.
- Confirm the destination, the drop-off point and the fare before you pay.
- Pay at the counter, ask whether M-Pesa is accepted, and always ask for a receipt.
- Keep that receipt until you reach your destination. It is your proof if there is any dispute.
Fridays, school opening and closing weeks, and the festive season are the busiest times. If you can travel mid-week, you will usually wait less.
Northways Shuttle Online Booking
Does Northways shuttle have online booking? Based on everything we could find, no. We did not find an official website, a mobile app or a booking page run by the operator. Several websites carry fares and booking buttons for other shuttles on the Nairobi–Eldoret corridor, but the pages we found did not list it, so be careful with any page that claims to sell its seats online. A page that takes your payment before you have spoken to the office is a risk you do not need to take.
If online booking matters to you, some bus companies on the western route do offer it. Our Easy Coach online booking guide walks through the process step by step, and our bus bookings category collects guides for many Kenyan operators. For another example of how online seat booking works, see our Mash Poa online booking guide. If you still prefer this operator, call the office, ask them to confirm your seat verbally, then pay in person.
Northways Shuttle Parcel Services
Northways shuttle parcel services are another area with no published information. We found no parcel rates, no parcel hotline and no list of collection points. Many shuttles on the Nairobi–Eldoret corridor do carry parcels, often through a separate parcel desk with its own phone number, as North Rift Shuttle does. Whether this operator offers the same, you will need to ask at the counter.
If you decide to send something, protect yourself:
- Ask first whether parcels are accepted, what the fee is and where the recipient collects.
- Get a receipt showing the date, destination and amount paid.
- Write down the recipient’s full name, phone number and ID number.
- Do not send cash, documents you cannot replace or expensive electronics unless the office clearly agrees to carry them.
- Tell the recipient to bring the receipt and an ID, since that is how most shuttle offices release parcels.
- Take a quick photo of the parcel before you hand it over.
Is Northways Shuttle Safe?
It is a fair question, and it deserves an honest answer. In January 2024, the Daily Nation reported a head-on collision at Twin Bridge on the Nakuru–Eldoret highway between a Classic Kings of Congo bus and a 14-seater Northways shuttle. Fifteen people died. The bus driver was arraigned in a Molo court and denied the charges.
A single crash does not tell you how a business runs today, and we have no data comparing it with other operators. What it does show is how unforgiving long highway driving can be for passengers in small vehicles. So take sensible precautions on any shuttle:
- Choose daytime departures where you can.
- Wear a seatbelt if one is fitted at your seat.
- Do not board a vehicle that is clearly carrying more people than it has seats.
- Send the number plate to a friend or relative before you leave.
- Report reckless driving or overloading to NTSA.
How Northways Shuttle Compares With Other Options
If Northways shuttle does not have a seat when you need one, you are not short of alternatives. Great Rift Shuttle runs a similar corridor with offices close by, and Mololine Prestige Shuttle covers the Nairobi–Nakuru–Eldoret stretch with its own office and fare details. If you would rather have a larger coach, our Transline Bus guide covers a wider stretch of western Kenya. For a bigger picture of the market, see our roundup of the best matatu Saccos in Kenya, and browse all our shuttle guides.
Frequently Asked Questions About Northways Shuttle
Where is the office in Nairobi? The only address we found is Information House, ground floor, Mfangano Street, Nairobi Central.
What is the Northways shuttle phone number? The listed number is 0721 179 000. The directory entry is unverified, so confirm it with a call before you travel.
Does it have online booking? We found no official website, app or online booking page. Book by phone or in person and keep your receipt.
How much is the fare? No fare list is published. Use the benchmark table above, then ask the office for the exact fare to your stop.
Is Northways shuttle the same as North Rift Shuttle? Nothing we found links the two, so treat them as separate businesses and do not call North Rift numbers expecting Northways.
Does it carry parcels? That is unconfirmed. Ask at the counter and get a receipt if you send anything.
Final Thoughts
Northways shuttle is a small Nairobi operator with a Mfangano Street base, one listed phone number and very little public information. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it is a reason to do your homework. Call before you travel, visit the office, confirm the fare and the drop-off point, and keep your receipt. If you need more certainty, compare it with the established shuttles on the same corridor first. We will update this guide as soon as verified routes, fares or parcel details become available.
