Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

Reversion to Taxi-Like Behavior

• Many see Kenyan Uber drivers’ off-app pricing as a return to old-school taxi bargaining, but with riders now captive inside an app ecosystem.
• Several commenters argue this is not unique to Kenya: similar behavior (selective cancellations, off-app deals, fare manipulation) is emerging in many markets, making Uber more like pre-app taxis.

Kenya-Specific Market Dynamics

• Multiple ride apps operate, and most drivers are on all of them; riders often check several apps for the cheapest price.
• Because it’s often literally the same car across apps, rides are treated as a commodity, driving intense price competition.
• Drivers and repeat customers frequently bypass apps entirely, paying directly (often via mobile money) at a discount, while drivers earn more without the platform’s ~30% cut.
• Some argue Uber is effectively just a matchmaker now, with little control once drivers and riders connect.

Why Uber Doesn’t Simply Raise Rates

• One view: raising rates would be “giving in” to driver collective action and would encourage competitors.
• Another: Uber already prices at the maximum it thinks customers will accept; true cost-covering prices (including fair wages) would reduce demand.
• In many international markets, Uber is already the premium-priced option relative to local services.

Global Driver Workarounds and Passenger Frustrations

• Reports from various countries: drivers call to check destinations, cancel unprofitable trips, ask for extra cash, or propose off-app payments matching or undercutting Uber’s quoted fare.
• Some riders accept these arrangements; others refuse to “undermine” the platform, fearing a slide back to opaque taxi pricing.
• People describe scams: longer routes, manipulated meters, fake accounts, mismatched plates, and drivers starting trips without passengers.

Safety, Regulation, and Power

• Safety concerns include locked rear doors, violent enforcement by taxi interests, and kidnapping fears; others say such risks are rare and suggest vetting vehicles and drivers via the app instead of carrying tools.
• Several comments compare outright bribery in some countries with “legalized” influence via lobbying in others, arguing both shape which companies (Uber, taxis, or state-tied firms) dominate local markets.