Government now calls for meeting to resolve taxi-Uber row
By NAIROBI NEWS REPORTER
The row between taxi drivers and new entrants in the market, Uber, should soon be resolved following a government directive that the two parties meet on a round table.
On Thursday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery directed Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho to convene a meeting between Uber management and Kenya taxi operators to agree on their operations.
The new development comes following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the taxi drivers for the government to resolve the stalemate.
On Wednesday, the drivers asked for negotiations over Uber’s entrance into the market, while threatening to hold a “massive demonstration” if their demands are not met.
ATTACKS ON UBER
Earlier, the government had warned those behind the attacks on Uber cab drivers that have recently been witnessed in some parts of Nairobi.
“The government takes this opportunity to send a strong word of caution to those behind the attacks that such barbaric acts cannot and shall not be tolerated,” the Ministry’s spokesman, Mr Mwenda Njoka said in a statement on Wednesday.
However, United Kenya Taxi Organisation spokesperson, Mr Ashford Mwangi, denied reports that its members were attacking Uber drivers and vehicles.
“We are not at war with any transport service provider like it has been reported in media. We are fighting the strategy that Uber is using to gain monopoly of the market,” he said.
