Ride-hailing firm Little Cab says it has recorded increased driver and rider activity as a nationwide strike by digital taxi operators disrupted services across major platforms.
The industrial action, which began on November 3, followed a directive by the Amalgamation of Digital Transport Organisations, Kenya, instructing drivers, vehicle owners, digital taxi captains and boda boda operators to switch off all ride-hailing applications and join demonstrations.
The notice, signed by Joint Chairs Daniel Manga and Justin Nyaga, cited grievances including low trip earnings, rising operating costs, opaque commission structures and slow dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Little Cab remained operational during the disruption and reported a rise in new driver onboarding, rider registrations and corporate mobility sign-ups within the first 24 hours of the strike.
The company said its teams worked extended hours to process applications and that the platform did not experience downtime despite increased traffic.
A central point of appeal for drivers, according to Little, was its 18 per cent commission on each trip for both corporate and cash rides, a rate aligned with government regulations capping commissions at that level.
The company noted that it has previously charged as low as 15 per cent. It added that promotions are structured so that drivers receive the full credited amount, and that pricing adjustments can be made depending on market conditions.
Little also reported heightened interest from corporate users who sought pricing consistency and the absence of steep surge charges during the strike period.
Chief Executive Officer Kamal Budhabatti said the trends observed during the disruption reflected broader issues in the market.
“Drivers want dignity and riders want reliability. Little has built its model around this simple truth, and today the market is speaking for itself,” he said.
The strike has highlighted ongoing tensions in Kenya’s digital transport sector, particularly concerns over commission models and automated pricing systems used by major platforms.
With competing services offline for much of the day, Little’s continued operations increased its visibility among drivers and riders.
Budhabatti said the company plans to scale cautiously while maintaining its emphasis on fair driver earnings, transparent pricing and reliable rider experiences.
“We don’t celebrate disruption, we celebrate choice,” he said.
“Drivers and riders choosing Little
tells us we’re doing something right.”
