Uber Kenya has increased its prices in Nairobi and Mombasa cities

Uber prices have gone up.

“We have always promised to closely monitor driver-partner’s economics; keeping cognisant of how inflation and fuel prices can affect those using our app. We continue to stand by that promise because Uber succeeds when our partners succeed.”

-via a statement from Uber

Uber Kenya has been in battle with drivers here in the country since the firm decided to slash its prices last year in a move aimed at taming the new entrant back then Little Cab, a joint venture by Safaricom Limited and Craft Silicon. The major concern with the drivers is the fact that despite the reduction in client prices, Uber still maintained its share of the revenue. Uber was still taking 25 percent of the earnings.

Uber was aiming at capitalizing on economies of scale. From the firm’s point of view, lower prices were to directly translate to increased cab requests which would translate to more earnings for drivers. According to drivers, this translated to a surge in cars and reduced earnings.

As such the drivers went on strike last month to demand higher rates either one of two approaches:

1. Uber to increase the rates charged
2. Uber to reduce the percentage it was claiming from each trip. Currently it stands at 25 percent.

Most drivers preferred the later.

The following are the Uber prices in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi:

The following are the new Uber prices in the coastal town of Mombasa:

Mr. Felix

A Math Nerd and a Computer Geek. Currently a Windows 10 Insider. Interested in AI, big data and AR/VR. Takes a keen interest in developments in the tech, business and social media spheres.