Kenyan ride-hailing drivers launch five-day strike over pay

Ride-hailing drivers across Kenya initiated a five-day strike in mid-July 2024 to press for higher pay and the elimination of value-added tax imposed on their fares.

The action, which began on a Monday, highlighted ongoing tensions between platform workers and both the companies they contract with and the government that regulates them. Drivers argued that the introduction of VAT had further eroded already thin margins in an economy where many rely on gig work to support their families.

At the close of the first day of the strike, participants marched to the offices of the transport ministry in the capital to present their grievances directly to officials. The demonstration formed part of broader efforts by informal transport workers to secure better working conditions in a sector that has grown rapidly since the arrival of international ride-hailing platforms.

Kenya’s digital taxi services operate in a competitive environment where drivers often bear the costs of vehicle maintenance, fuel and platform commissions. The imposition of VAT on ride-hailing fares, introduced in previous fiscal measures, increased the financial pressure on an occupation that provides livelihoods for tens of thousands of urban residents.

The strike reflected wider discontent among gig economy workers in several African countries where similar platforms dominate passenger transport. In Kenya, drivers have previously raised concerns about unilateral changes to commission rates and limited recourse when accounts are deactivated.

By halting operations for the full five days, the drivers aimed to demonstrate their collective importance to the smooth functioning of daily mobility in major cities. The outcome of the strike and any subsequent negotiations with authorities or platform operators were not immediately known at the time of the march.

The transport ministry has in the past engaged with worker representatives on regulatory matters, though reaching agreement on tax and remuneration issues has proved challenging given competing fiscal priorities for the government.

Based on reporting by Techpoint Africa.