Taxi drivers to ditch Uber, Bolt over failure to comply with NTSA’s licensing process
The Organization of Online Drivers has on Monday announced plans to boycott services under the Uber and Bolt platforms effective today, November 21.
The group, led by Justin Nyaga, claimed that the two online-hailing companies disregarded the rules that had been published on June 20, by the Cabinet Secretary for Transportation and Infrastructure.
The group also stated that users would still be able to access the services through other compliant platforms namely Little, Hava Cabs, and Yego Mobility.
The NTSA’s regulations, which were published in June demanded that licensing be obtained before transport network providers and companies could use their apps in the country.
According to the regulations, drivers and passengers who would have failed to apply for a license by September 18 would not get access to services.
The NTSA gave existing and potential digital taxi-hailing companies 14 days starting on October 14, 2022, to submit an application for licenses as Transport Network Companies.
Uber, a ride-hailing company, criticized the licensing of transportation providers and filed a lawsuit to have the regulations overturned.
Uber argued that the requirement for businesses providing transportation through mobile apps to apply for a transport network license is unlawful because it lacks parliamentary approval in the case that was brought before the High Court.
Uber added that NTSA did not adhere to the law when creating the new regulations and argued further that the regulations were not subject to public input.