Ride-sharing app drivers strike over low fares – Kenyan Wall Street
Thousands of ride-sharing drivers are currently protesting in Nairobi to force their respective platforms to increase fares per kilometer.
- The striking drivers have mobilized their colleagues to turn off all apps and join the strike, which aims to put pressure on all major platforms, including Uber, Bolt, Little and Faras.
- According to a statement issued Kenyan Wall Street, The peaceful demonstrations will take place from Monday, July 15th to Friday, July 19th, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- After gathering at Green Park Terminus, the striking drivers announced that they would go to the Governor’s office at City Hall and then travel to the various ride-sharing platform offices.
“We hereby notify you of our above planned peaceful demonstrations and pickets to protest against exploitation by online app companies like Uber, Bolt, Little Cabs, Faras Kenya and others who are violating the NTSA Rules 2022,” the striking drivers wrote to the Inspector General.
Due to the limited number of trips in the city, some customers are forced to resort to other means of transport or pay higher fares for the available trips. However, the striking drivers have promised to deal with those who do not stand in solidarity with them – they consider them traitors to the planned industrial action.
The strike is intended to cripple both passenger and delivery services, significantly affecting the revenue of ride-hailing companies and bringing them to the negotiating table. It is not the first time that taxi app drivers have gone on strike over the same issues currently being raised. A nationwide strike was called in 2019 and 2022 to force the apps to comply with the 18% commission capped by the NTSA.
Some of the companies, such as Uber at the time, challenged the cap on the grounds that it would limit the company's revenues and profit margins, thus discouraging investment. Taxi drivers argued that if the companies exceeded the commission cap without increasing mileage rates, they would be at a disadvantage due to external costs such as rising fuel costs.
This is a developing story…
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