Digital taxi operators in Kenya went on strike on Monday, 15 July 2024, to protest poor pay, unsafe working conditions, and issues with county governments.
In Nairobi, Digital Taxi drivers marched to City Hall, chanting slogans like “Uber Shuka” and “Bolt Shuka,” demanding dialogue with the Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja, who was absent.
City County Chief Officer, Patrick Analo, addressed the drivers on behalf of the Governor, who were calling for designated parking bays for pickups and drop-offs in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), which were promised on 20th July 2023 by Governor Johnson Sakaja but are yet to be implemented, leading to harassment by county officials. The drivers also complained about county officers entering their vehicles and extorting them.
The strike caused significant disruptions to services on platforms like Uber, Bolt, and Little Cab, with fewer services being available, and as a result, fares were hiked.
Many passengers were forced to leave their taxis in compliance with the strike.