THE STANDARD
BUSINESS
For the last six years, digital taxi business which has gained traction in nearly all major towns in Kenya, has been operating without government regulation.
The taxi drivers and car owners complain that lack of a regulatory framework has seen the taxi hailing applications exploit them by undercharging, giving discounts and free rides without consulting them.
Nakuru-based stakeholders, under Digital Transport Forum, said they are developing what they hope will form part of a legal framework to guide their relationship with app owners and their clients.
Led by Martin Lesanjo, drivers and car owners lamented that app owners dictate the charges, commissions and disciplinary actions which do not favour drivers.
UK Uber ruling recasts spotlight on Kenya s fledgling gig economy businessdailyafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from businessdailyafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE STANDARD By
Wainaina Wambu |
February 28th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Digital Taxi Forum Secretary-General Wycliffe Alutalala (left), Patrick Mwangi (C) and Mathews Lesanjo. [David Njaaga, Standard]
They are buoyed by a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that Uber drivers were “workers” and not independent contractors.
The talk meant to fill the awkward silence during that short drive across towns has since become a monologue of distress.
Ride-hailing app drivers are being driven off the road by the gig economy. Things fell apart and something has to give, they say.
Last year, due to the pandemic, dozens of their vehicles were auctioned over non-payment of loans and many drivers quit the business.
App taxi drivers want better laws, higher commission standardmedia.co.ke - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from standardmedia.co.ke Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE STANDARD
SCI & TECH
Digital taxi drivers now want ride-hailing applications to set minimum commissions at 15 per cent for the Nairobi market.
This is in their latest push for better earnings, where they also want the commissions charged by the app companies pushed down to 10 per cent for operators in Nakuru and Mombasa.
Uber and Bolt take a minimum commission of 25 and 20 per cent respectively from drivers on their network. The drivers, under their lobby, Digital Transport Forum also want the app companies to define minimum wage per trip and service level agreement localised per Kenyan laws. Uber and Bolt still have their service level agreements in line with European laws,” said Digital Transport Forum Secretary-General Wycliffe Alutulala.