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Kenya: Why Kenyan Digital-Taxi Drivers Are Threatening to Switch Off Apps

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4 years ago

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Nairobi — Kenyan digital taxi drivers are threatening to switch off taxi apps citing the failure by the Government to gazette the Digital Hailing Service regulations (TNC Rules 2022) which had been passed by the Senate labor committee chaired by Senator Johnson Sakaja.

The drivers under the Digital Taxi Forum (DTF) on Friday issued a seven-day ultimatum within which they would boycott and switch off Uber, Bolt, Little cab, and any other apps operating in Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyeri, and any other town or city.

The regulations which had been proposed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) would among others, prohibit digital hailing service operators from charging a commission of more than 15 percent.

Currently, most ride-hailing firms are charging a commission of at least 20 percent with Uber taking the highest cut at 25 percent.

Speaking at a press conference, Secretary-General (SG) of DTF Wycliffe Alutalala stated that the failure by the Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia to gazette the Digital Taxi Regulations had led to serious suffering of drivers and car owners who have for long decried unfair regimes by the international ride-hailing firms.

“It is unfortunate that one year down the line, CS Macharia has either refused, neglected, declined, or ignored to gazette the Regulations for reasons best known to himself,” lamented SG Alutalala.

If passed, the law would also require international digital taxi firms to set up a subsidiary in Kenya and pay an application fee of Sh500,000 and an annual renewal fee of Sh300,000.

Digital hailing service operators are prohibited from levying or charging other charges, levies, or fees over and above the commission.