Taxi-hailing industry players on Sunday, July 9, announced a nationwide strike aimed at forcing the government, specifically Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, to address their concerns.
A message shared by the leadership of the taxi-hailing services association indicated that the strike will also involve other public transport service providers among them boda boda riders and matatu operators.
The taxi drivers claimed that the government had failed to address their concerns despite numerous petitions and pleas to help them improve the industry.
“There shall be a nationwide strike on Wednesday, July 12, involving everyone in the transport industry including taxi drivers, boda boda operators, matatus and other affiliate transport service providers.
“Do not try to put your car on the road. We are warning you not to try to test the waters on the day of the strike. We will take to the streets and demonstrate up until when our demands shall be met by the government,” the leader stated on the voice note obtained by Kenyans.co.ke.
NAIROBI LIFE
Among the issues that taxi drivers want addressed include the cost of fuel, pay rates from digital companies, traffic police intimidation and insecurity.
All taxi drivers and motorists were thus warned to keep their cars off the road to avoid unpleasant encounters during the industrial strike.
The taxi drivers were clear on their intention, indicating that they will ensure that all transport systems in the country are paralysed until their demands are met.
On the cost of fuel, the taxi drivers claimed that the rates had been rising steadily in recent months putting a significant financial strain on their businesses.
In addition, the taxi drivers claimed that some digital companies had squeezed their profits despite skyrocketing inflation rate.
The association also blamed traffic police officers who they claimed targeted them for parking fines, even when they were not breaking any laws.
“This can be a major source of stress and anxiety for taxi drivers and it has also led to financial losses. In order to address these issues, governments and industry groups need to work together to find solutions that will benefit both taxi drivers and their customers,” the association added.
The taxi drivers’ industrial strike will coincide with Azimio la Umoja’s anti-government mass action scheduled for the same day according to National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
Azimio’s anti-government demonstrations follow months of failed talks between the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and the opposition. A bipartisan committee composed of politicians from both factions was unable to reconcile their differences.
The opposition wants President Ruto’s administration to tackle the rising cost of living, compel IEBC to open election servers, and stop the ongoing recruitment of electoral body commissioners.
“We have also said that the people of Kenya have a right to demonstrate and picket because these are rights enshrined in our constitution,” Raila affirmed.
“We are, therefore, collecting 10 million signatures in order to delegitimise this regime. In response, we will carry out our own referendum,” Raila stated.
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