Uber street demo flops as taxi lobby opts for dialogue

The planned demonstration by United Kenya Taxi Association failed to take place Thursday, as members of the lobby group said they would instead seek audience with the Transport Secretary James Macharia.

The would-be protestors only held a meeting Thursday after the Interior and Government Coordination Ministry issued a stern warning against the planned street demonstration.

On Wednesday last week the association gave the Ministry of Transport a seven-day ultimatum to end the standoff between its members and drivers using Uber, the online taxi hailing application.

The regular cab drivers vowed to hold demonstrations that would paralyse activity in Nairobi’s streets if their demands were not met.

The government however sent stern warnings saying those caught breaking the law would be arrested.

The lobby says that Uber is driving its members out business. It initially said it wanted the government to kick the American firm out of the country, but has since said it wants to negotiate for terms by which they can co-exist.

The United Kenya Taxi Association claimed that it had been left out of the Monday negotiations with the government, but Mr Macharia said in an interview Thursday the government was ready to listen to their grievances.

“Uber has not committed any crime to come to Kenya and like any investor we will protect them as long as they obey the law. The taxi (association) members should stay put and wait for the recommendations from the Monday meeting,” said Mr Macharia.

During Monday’s meeting, a stakeholders committee was formed under the chairmanship of the director general of the Competition Authority of Kenya Wang’ombe Kariuki to compile a report on matters raised in two weeks’ time.

The report will help in drafting of laws to govern online taxi operations.

“We commend the deputy president (William Ruto) and the Interior CS (Joseph Nkaissery) for their efforts to end the stalemate but we are not happy (we were) sidelined yet we are registered and are the ones who called for talks,” said Ashford Mwangi, the spokesperson for the United Kenya Taxi Association.

“They say we were represented, but by who,” posed Mr Mwangi.

Uber seems to be winning the war on the raging business rivalry as the government and transport stakeholders have promised to work with them in Kenya.

READ: Uber, regular taxis rivalry turns ugly as drivers fight

The tension between Uber and regular taxi drivers which has remained high since January when the first incident of harassment against Uber drivers was reported in Westlands appears to be waning, as more government agencies get involved to end the standoff.

“Policymakers are on the side of the technology and we look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure new technologies, such as Uber, that deliver solutions to very real issues of safety, congestion, and job creation can continue to successfully operate in Nairobi,” said Uber Africa Spokesperson Samantha Allenberg.