Only 5 digital taxi-hailing companies licensed to operate in Kenya – NTSA

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has said only five digital ride-hailing operators are licensed to operate in Kenya.

NTSA on Monday issued a list of the companies allowed to operate in the country, which comprises Kenyan company Little Limited which runs the Little Ride taxis, US company Uber and Estonian company Bolt.

A new player in the market is Yego Global, a Rwandan taxi operator. NTSA in a follow-up notice also said another operator, Farasi Cabs, had fully complied with the stipulated licensing requirements and has been issued with a license.

Farasi has capped its rate at 15 per cent against the recommended 18 per cent.

The gazettement comes in the backdrop of a row between taxi drivers and the transport companies over the commission charged.

Drivers of major digital taxi platforms across major towns in Kenya last week downed their tools in protest of non-compliance by the transport network companies to observe NTSA’s 18 per cent recommendation.

Uber and Bolt on Sunday announced that they had slashed their commissions to 18 per cent. Uber used to charge a 25 percent commission while Bolt was at 20 percent.

NTSA in June published regulations capping the commission charged by digital taxi operators on drivers at 18 percent per trip.

Uber, however, filed a petition to declare the regulation unconstitutional.

During the peaceful demonstrations held on Thursday, Justin Nyaga, the Chairperson of Organisation of Online Drivers said the taxi hailing apps had not implemented the agreements on capping commission which was to begin on September 20. 

Drivers additionally decried booking fees and value-added tax payments charged on fares, despite the regulations barring operators from adding other terms exceeding 18 per cent of the total earnings per trip.