Uber drivers go on a go slow, demands better renumeration and working conditions

Uber taxi drivers in Kenya went on a go slow today, demanding for higher rates and better working conditions.

In a whatsapp message seen by Plive, the drivers instructed their fellow colleagues to switch off their Uber app on Monday and wait until a roundtable meeting with their bosses has been called where they can then discuss better working conditions.

"At times we wish we knew the cost of the journey in order to have the option of cancelling it but we do not," a driver who sought anonymity said.

The situation has been worsen more by the recent hike in fuel prices, The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) last week announced new prices for fuel, a litre of petrol currently retails at one dollar.

The anonymous driver further claimed that they spend up to 1.5 dollars on fuel for a ride that costs two dollars.

"So we want Uber to start charging immediately the request is made, not when the client gets into the car”

Uber drivers are also demanding better rates of compensations, currently the service keeps 25 per cent of what the drivers make, however the drivers want this rate to be reduced to 10 per cent effectively ensuring they too get a bigger pie.

The San Francisco-based taxi e-hailing giant launched its services in Nairobi in January 2015, and has since branched into towns including Mombasa and Thika.

Uber taxis calculate fares based on distance covered and time spent. The price is 0.6 dollars for every kilometer covered and 0.04 dollars per minute, in addition to a base fare of one dollar.

Uber taxis have in recent times faced stiff competition from Little Cabs who offer their driver better renumerations.

Little cab services takes 12 per cent as revenue for every ride compared to Uber services which takes 25 per cent.