Kenya Uber drivers protest 35% fare reduction

Kenya

Hopes of boosting demand turned into woes for Uber in Kenya as their drivers in Nairobi didn’t take it lightly but park their cars and protest.

Hundreds held placards on Tuesday calling on Uber to reverse the fare change which was announced last week or “must go”.

Happening Now: Protest by Uber drivers ongoing along Ojijo road. ShaffieG pic.twitter.com/fQhc8cbdFp
— NTV Kenya (ntvkenya) August 2, 2016

Since the introduction of the taxi hailing service in Kenya, a lot of drivers signed on to it while other traditional taxi drivers protested against the company largely blamed worldwide for “killing” other taxi business.

“Uber made a drastic change to our contract without consulting us effectively as partners. That is going to impact negatively to our businesses. We will not be able to make a return on our investments,” the union head of the protesting drivers, Emmanuel Kasina told local media.

“We just want sincere consultations,” he told local radio Capital FM adding that they want the company to reduce its commission from 25 to 20 percent.

Uber however said in a statement that they have improved the services and they are open for dialogue.

The service has expanded into 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa since it entered South Africa in 2012.