William Ruto Orders Fast-Track of Ride-Hailing Minimum Fare Rules

President William Ruto has ordered the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the National Transport and Safety Authority to fast-track regulations establishing minimum fare floors for ride-hailing platforms including Uber and Bolt. The directive aims to protect driver earnings against rising fuel and maintenance costs and to combat predatory app commissions.

Proposed regulations, currently undergoing public participation, suggest transitional minimum driver take-home rates of KES 219 for small cars and KES 90.3 for boda bodas. However, industry consultations have considered higher minimum compensation levels between KES 400 and KES 500 per trip. Digital providers have warned that these aggressive price floors could reduce market demand by as much as 40 percent.

A survey of 733 adults in Nairobi by TIFA Research indicates strong passenger opposition, with 59 percent of users opposing the government policy and 63 percent arguing that fares should be determined by market forces. The data shows that approximately 60 percent of users would abandon ride-hailing services for traditional options like matatus or boda bodas if prices increase, while only 18 percent would maintain their current habits.