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Uber is seen as unfair competition by traditional taxi drivers all over the world with protests being held from Sao Paolo to Brussels to Johannesburg. In Kenya regular taxis say their opposition is mainly based on the prices Uber charges. This is a sticky point as most customers prefer Uber because of the cost and the straight forward pricing. The regular taxis are also unhappy with the requirement by Uber that to join it you have to have cars that are less than 8 years old. Those who want to join have older cars and therefore can’t be able to sign up with the service.

Launched in 2015 in Nairobi, Uber has steadily grown its users here. This is mostly thanks to its transparent pricing model. Customers have complained over the years that regular taxis had been charging them almost double what Uber charges. The removal of the credit card requirement on registration has also greatly helped to drive sign-ups and usage. This is important because very few Kenyans have credit cards.

Harassment of Uber drivers in Nairobi by regular taxi drivers started sometime last year. The harassment was only in the form of threats in the beginning. Taxi drivers are very protective of their territory and do not take it kindly when drivers not affiliated with them park there. Uber drivers would sometimes park in these areas either while waiting for clients or for the app to link them with a client. When the regular taxi drivers noticed this they started threatening the drivers. They could easily tell the Uber drivers because of their smartphones which were on display either on their dashboard or next to the gear.

When Uber started gaining traction, taxi drivers found out about it and signed up with the service. They would request for rides and then cancel them just when the drivers were about to reach them. Some Uber drivers have said that in some cases the taxi guys would be waiting for them and would warn them not to operate in that area. This continued happening especially after Uber introduced the cash option. More regular taxi drivers could sign up could sign up for the service easily. Their differences continued escalating and in September an Uber was badly beaten up and his car damaged at Valley Arcade.

2016 started badly for Uber drivers. Uber drivers have had their car tyres deflated and in one instance a car windows were broken and a driver slightly injured. There have also been reported cases of threats and intimidation of Uber drivers in the Nairobi CBD, Junction, Prestige, Valley Arcade and The Oval.

Eric Mugendi almost didn’t get an Uber on Saturday because Uber drivers are scared of the CBD.

Kui Njoroge’s Uber driver had all his car tyres deflated on Saturday at Valley Arcade.

Robert Alai has today shared screenshots of what seems like taxi drivers organizing to harass Uber partner drivers.

Uber recently warned its drivers to be careful at the Oval because apparently some of their drivers have been harassed there. Going forward, they should release advisories for passengers as well as there is a risk they could get caught in between. They should also communicate what they are doing to protect their drivers as the harassment from taxi drivers continue.