In her eight years as a taxi driver in Kenya’s capital, Judith Chepkwony has faced unprecedented difficulties.
A fierce price war among ride-hailing giants like Uber, Bolt, and local startups has driven fares down, making them unsustainable for drivers.
Chepkwony, who has her car on loan, struggles with rising living costs. She tries to negotiate higher fares with customers but often has to cancel rides if they refuse to pay more.
Half of the passengers agree to the higher rates, but it’s a tough sell.
Uber’s policies conflict with these practices, as they prohibit such fare adjustments.
This clash highlights the tension between global ride-hailing rules and the challenging realities of Kenya’s developing market.
Kenya’s economic issues, including tax hikes and high living costs, have worsened drivers’ situations.
Despite being a key market for Uber, with low car ownership rates, drivers have protested low commissions and poor conditions.
To cope, drivers use apps like Zello to coordinate higher fares and display printed fare guides in their cars.
Local startup Faras Cabs has raised fares to meet driver demands, but customers are frustrated by the extra time spent haggling over prices.
