Back in July, the Kenyan Government published new rules for the digital taxi platforms that was to see the services lower the commission they require from drivers to 18%. This was not implemented immediately and that has led to some issues between the platforms and the partner drivers.
Last week, there was a strike by the drivers asking for the implementation of this among other demands. Some of the other demands included doing away with the offers often awarded to riders as a way to get them to take more rides and having a minimum base fare of ksh 300.
Uber may have been listening and has so far lowered the fee it takes from partner drivers for every ride from 25% to 18% with immediate effect. This should be good news for the partner drivers as one of their demands has been met.
“We are committed to Kenya and will continue to find workable solutions that benefit both riders and drivers using the platform as well as the business,” says Imran Manji, Head of East Africa for Uber.
“Since our launch, Uber has been actively working with regulators to help shape the future of ride-hailing in Kenya. This has been our aim since we launched in Nairobi in 2015, and we have stayed true to that.”
Imran concludes, “We are certainly excited about our future in Kenya. We remain committed to engaging with policymakers, raising the bar on safety, helping drivers grow their businesses, and improving the experience of riders.”
What the law says
The law at the moment states, “The commission which shall be paid by a transport network driver or a transport network owner to the transport network company, which shall not exceed eighteen per cent of the total earnings of the trip.”
Before this, Little was the only platform in the clear as it was taking 15% for every ride a driver takes. Bolt takes 20% and the company is yet to lower that to 18%. With Uber’s announcement, I expect Bolt to follow suit in a few days or weeks.
Read: Uber Expands services to Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru Naivasha
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