Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 895247,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/895247/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "being subjected to ceaseless toil under conditions that are injurious to their health and pose a danger to the public at large. Majority of these drivers have taken loans to finance their vehicles and are left with no option but to work for long unsafe hours in order to be able to service the loans and at least feed their families. This has led to an increase in the number of road accidents on our roads. Those who have defaulted have had their vehicles auctioned and thus, have been rendered jobless. One week ago, it was reported in the dailies that more than 2,500 vehicles were auctioned by two local banks for failure to service loans. What is interesting to note is that those who come to buy those cars in those auctions put them back into the same services thus causing a vicious cycle. The fares being charged by these hailing cabs companies are extremely low and below the minimum rates prescribed by the Automobile Association and the Government, and the commissions taken are too high. As soon as a customer pays for an Uber ride, 25 per cent immediately goes to the company in the Netherlands and nothing comes to our country. There has to be a balance on how the pricing is done so that the driver, the customer and these companies benefit and in order to avoid exploitation of either party. We need to have set standards and that is why we have a competition authority, on the minimum allowable rates to be charged across the taxi industry and these charges should factor in the other non-hailing cabs. In other countries, cabs are metred as is the practice in all over the world, to count and charge customers justly. Once this is done, it will harmonize and regulate the industry to ensure fair competition. We have seen these cabs pushing other sectors of the transport industry out of business when a minimum rate is Kshs150, that means those who are in boda boda and those who are driving tuk tuks can never get a client. In other jurisdictions legislative measures have been put in place to hold these companies accountable to higher standards in regard to labour relations and ensure people are not exploited. These companies must also be made to pay their fair share of taxes to our government. In many jurisdictions, as soon as you enter these vehicles, an amount goes directly to the tax authorities and local authorities. It is possible and it has been done. We must protect the more than 15,000 drivers, many of whom are in Nairobi and Mombasa counties – and as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, I will be tabling a Motion as soon as we come back from recess, if so moved by the House, to ensure this issue is dealt with conclusively. It is a serious issue. It needs our attention. Our drivers are bleeding and they are not able to earn a living from these hailing cabs."
}