A nationwide strike by a section of digital taxi operators over the last few weeks is upending the ride-hailing market, sending drivers and riders scrambling for alternatives.
- •The strike has caused disruptions to key industry players after some driver groups called for a full switch-off of apps to protest low trip earnings, long-running complaints over opaque deductions, and limited recourse for disputes.
- •The coordinated action quickly disrupted mobility across Nairobi and other urban centers, leaving commuters with fewer options and exposing the fragility of the digital transport ecosystem.
- •As larger platforms went offline, Little Cab benefited from a sudden surge in traffic.
“Drivers want dignity and riders want reliability. Little has built its model around this simple truth, and today the market is speaking for itself. We don’t celebrate disruption, we celebrate choice,” said Little Cab CEO, Kamal Budhabatti.
Despite rapid expansion over the past decade, the ride-hailing sector has seen periodic unrest as drivers argue that automated pricing systems and fluctuating payout structures have steadily eroded margins. Coupled with macroeconomic factors such as rising fuel costs, what they earn from the apps eventually shrinks out. The country's regulations cap ride-hailing commissions at 18%.
