Nairobi Taxi Drivers Announce Week-Long Strike Over Low Pay and Hidden Charges
Kenya could be facing transport chaos next week as online taxi drivers have announced they will go on strike over low pay and unfair deductions by digital cab-hailing companies.
The drivers, mostly based in Nairobi, have vowed to stay off the roads until the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Ministry of Transport and ride-hailing firms respond to their demands.
“Apps are paying us very little money. We want these companies to care about us,” one driver said during an online meeting on Tuesday night.
Standard Rates
During the meeting, a leader identified as Chairman said drivers want the government to enforce standardised pricing.
“We want standard prices where the payments cannot go below the minimum price. The shortest trip must be specified, whether it is one kilometre, two kilometres or three kilometres,” he said.
The drivers plan to march to the Ministry of Transport and NTSA offices to demand transparency on how fares are set and to push for stricter enforcement of commission rules.
Hidden Charges and Commission Disputes
One driver revealed that deductions have reduced their earnings drastically.
“If you pay me Ksh1,000, I will receive Ksh700 and something, because they say commission is 18 per cent, but there are other deductions,” he said.
Although the Transport Network Companies Regulations, 2022, capped commissions at 18 per cent per trip, drivers argue that firms are bypassing the rules through hidden charges, leaving them with minimal take-home pay.
Strike Could Last Longer Than a Week
Organisers have warned that the strike, expected to start next week, will last at least a week but could go on longer if their demands are not met.
This comes after ride-hailing companies reduced fares to attract more customers, a move drivers say has only made their earnings worse.
Some participants in the online meeting even threatened to take tough action against colleagues who ignore the strike, but leaders urged restraint, advising non-participants to just stay off the road.
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Nairobi Taxi Drivers Announce Week-Long Strike Over Low Pay and Hidden Charges