This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Kenyan taxi drivers are set to embark on an indefinite strike from July 15, 2019, in a bid to push for better pricing by dominant app companies. The drivers claim that US-based Uber and Estonian software firm Taxify have refused to negotiate in good faith regarding the various changes they have been making without proper consultations.
According to Mr. John Kimani, the president of Digital Taxi Forum, the drivers will remain on strike until an agreement that is acceptable to all parties and stakeholders is reached. Mr. Kimani stated, "We have no other recourse than to begin our indefinite strike from July 15. We will be picketing and holding peaceful demonstrations daily until our concerns are addressed,"
The taxi drivers are aggrieved that the dominant companies have been engaging in price wars, much to their detriment and third-party vehicle owners who are never consulted on changes. This has led to all-time low fares that have reduced their earnings to an unsustainable level.
Unfortunately, a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2018 at the Ministry of Transport between the Digital Taxi App companies and the Digital Taxi Forum has not yielded any substantial results. The drivers claim that the digital taxi app firms never honoured the deal, giving excuses for not honouring the same.
Transport PS Paul Maringa had stated that the department had agreed to sign an MOU with the drivers that includes a pricing structure. However, the digital taxi drivers feel that their good faith in signing the MOU was taken for granted by the Ministry and the app companies.
