When digital taxis across Kenya log off en masse, it is more than a temporary service disruption; it is the latest act in a four-year struggle by drivers demanding fair treatment in an industry dominated by algorithms and corporate platforms. On 17 November 2025, drivers staged another nationwide app switch off, demonstrating yet again that despite strikes, regulatory efforts, and coordinated walkouts, the platforms and regulators have remained largely unmoved.
On one side stand Uber, Bolt, and the NTSA regulatory machinery, wielding algorithms, policies, and corporate influence. On the other side stand Nairobi’s drivers, armed with smartphones, laminated fare charts, and coordinated offline and online networks. Over four years, drivers have refined a playbook that combines legal petitions, lobbying for regulations, and orchestrated service shutdowns to force attention to their grievances. Yet, despite repeated disruptions, both NTSA and the platforms have largely maintained the status quo, leaving drivers frustrated.
The conflict intensified after the government formalised the Digital Hailing Regulations in 2022, which, on paper, included an 18 percent commission cap intended to protect drivers. Drivers hoped this would address long-standing concerns over excessive platform fees and unfair account deactivations. However, the regulations have been slow to implement and parts remain contested in court, limiting practical impact. “The rules exist on paper, but they do not change what happens on the road,” a driver said.
Drivers’ tactics have evolved. There have been several strikes in mid-2024, targeted two-day shutdowns in April 2025, and repeated offline actions in 2025. These interventions exploit the network effect of ride-hailing apps, demonstrating that when drivers coordinate, the service itself becomes scarce and valuable. Yet, NTSA, Uber, and Bolt have shown little sign of conceding to demands, continuing to warn against fare hikes and unilateral pricing adjustments.
“The cost of living has risen, yet earnings remain flat,” said Judith Chepkwony, a Nairobi driver. “We are left negotiating fares just to survive, while the platforms continue as if nothing has changed.” Another driver, Erick Nyamweya, described his approach: “We first check the app price, then multiply by 1.5 to cover costs. Without coordination, we cannot make ends meet.” Their statements underscore the persistent pressure drivers face, even as platforms maintain policies that limit drivers’ flexibility.
Regulators and platforms have largely defended their positions. Uber and Bolt cite app policies and operational integrity, warning that unilateral pricing disrupts the service. NTSA has convened discussions but concrete enforcement and visible outcomes have been minimal. As Dennis Nyariki, vice chairman of a driver umbrella group, said, “We are meeting officials, but so far, the response has not translated into meaningful changes on the ground.”
For businesses and travellers, these recurring walkouts have tangible effects. Airport transfers are delayed, corporate trips disrupted, and informal taxi markets reassert themselves at higher costs. Companies must now factor app availability into operational planning, acknowledging that despite regulation and protest, the standoff between drivers and platforms persists.
Kenya’s experience highlights a broader lesson for gig economies across Africa: even sustained action and legal recognition may struggle to shift entrenched corporate behaviour without enforceable oversight. Nairobi’s drivers have built coordination, public visibility, and a regulatory case, yet four years into the revolt, NTSA, Uber, and Bolt remain largely unmoved, underscoring the limits of pressure in a sector dominated by digital platforms.
The struggle continues, but one fact is clear: the balance of power in Kenya’s digital taxi industry remains unresolved, and drivers’ grievances are still waiting for meaningful response.
