Uber drivers down tools, protest unfair market

Digital Taxi operators in Nairobi on Thursday, February 23 paralyzed operations protesting poor working conditions.

The mobile app-based taxi operators have recommended ways to curb suffering and overcome unfair market practice in taxi industry including establishment of regulations to control the industry and practices and alleviate abuse of market by dominant players such as Uber.

The drivers want a regulation setting their number of working hours for security purposes and have a formula that incorporates commissions, driver wages and welfare cost, taxes, fuel, replacement cost, profit/ return on investment, licenses/local fees, finance cost, insurance, maintenance, and other ware and tare costs.

The app-based drivers also want the initial charges for acquiring the services, Ksh 60/Km and Ksh 4 per minute re-instated as well as compensation by the company in case a driver works overtime – past eight hours.

The drivers also want to be allowed to join a union that will sought and represent their members’ interests when dealing with taxi companies or online app operators.

In addition, the drivers are calling for a fair hearing in the case where one has been reported with a crime. They have proposed not be deactivated from online platforms until the right to be heard is exercised and exhausted.

The growth of the online platform has been a boon for users and drivers who are now enjoying a more transparent pricing based on distance and time of travel.

The angry drivers matched to Parliament and presented their petition to the National Assembly Transport Committee chairman, Maina Kamanda.