NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 31 – Ride-sharing platform Uber Kenya has cut commission charged on drivers per trip from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, coming barely a week after drivers staged demonstrations.
The reductions come after the firm received a transport network licence from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to operate in Kenya.
“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,”
“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,” Uber Head of East Africa Imran Manji said.
Last week, Uber and Bolt drivers staged demos, accusing the Government for failing to implement a commission cap of 18 per cent on fares.
Online drivers accused the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for slowing implementation of the Digital Taxi Hailing Regulation that was gazetted in June 2022.
The regulation sought to cap fare commission at 18 per cent with Uber charging 25 percent and Bolt 20 per cent.
In 2020, through their lobby (the Digital Taxi Forum), digital taxi drivers asked transport regulators to cap taxi-hailing service operators’ commissions at a maximum of five percent in a raft of proposals submitted to the Senate.
The capping was set to benefit taxi partners who have for a long time decried the charges.
“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,” said Manji.
