Ride-hailing drivers raise their hands in unison during a press conference in Nairobi to demand fair treatment from digital taxi platforms. Photo/CALEB KORIR/JEDCA MEDIA.
Ride-hailing drivers working with platforms including Uber, Bolt, Farasi, Yego, WEEGO and Little Cab have accused the firms of unfair practices, warning that they will resort to strikes and demonstrations if their demands are not addressed within seven days.
Under the Amalgamation of Digital Taxi Transport Organisations Kenya have begun a 40-day campaign pushing for fairer pricing, reduced commissions and better working conditions in the ride-hailing industry. They have given companies seven days to respond to their concerns with a clear plan of action.
The drivers have outlined six major grievances including unfair fare reductions, high commissions, upfront pricing that does not factor in traffic or route changes, hidden trip details, losses from covering long distances to pick up riders (dead mileage) and being forced to accept complicated terms and conditions.
“Despite drivers being the backbone of the industry, we are being subjected to exploitation, with no clear measures from the authorities to safeguard our welfare,” the Driver’s Organizations said in a statement.
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According to them, most ride-hailing platforms charge up to 21 percent in commissions, higher than the 18 percent limit set by the Transport Network Companies Regulations (TNC) of 2022. The upfront pricing model is also seen as unfair, as it shifts the risks of traffic jams, diversions and longer routes onto drivers.
Speaking to JEDCA Media, the chairman of the Online Drivers Association, Justin Nyagah, accused ride-hailing companies of exploiting drivers through unfair pricing models.
“They have mistreated us so much. The pricing model that these platforms use does not reflect our demands because we don’t know how they calculate the prices. We have other costs including the initial price for car purchase, car services and fuel, yet the price that they set is below our expenditures,” Nyagah said.
He urged ride-hailing firms to involve drivers in setting prices and to scrap the upfront pricing system so that fares can reflect both time spent during rides and unexpected delays such as traffic jams or diversions.
Nyagah also warned that if their grievances are not resolved, drivers will resort to demonstrations and may even abandon the platforms altogether.
“We have started a 40-day agitation that includes talking to relevant authorities, demonstrations and strikes,” he added.
Another key issue is the lack of compensation for dead mileage, where drivers cover significant distances before a trip even begins. They are also demanding a surcharge for trips to remote areas, which often leave them without passengers for the return journey. In addition, they want cancellation fees introduced to reduce losses from riders who cancel after drivers have already traveled long distances.
The union has called on the Ministry of Transport, the NTSA, the Competition Authority of Kenya and Parliament’s Transport Committees to step in. Among their broader demands is the formation of a Wage Council for the digital transport sector, similar to those established in other areas of transport.
