More than 300 Digital Taxi operators in Mombasa switched off they apps in a go slow to protest what they said were “arbitrary arrests, harassment and extortion” visited upon them by police.
The operators said officers specifically from Central Police station have in the past three months made their lives difficult with frequent arrests on account of failing to comply to the regulations that require PSV vehicles to be painted a continuous yellow line and be without tinted windows- a rule which the operators say should not bind them.
“More than 50 of our members have been arrested on trumped up charges in the past three months. When at the police station they will start asking you to defend yourself which loosely translates to bribe your way out,” said Dan Chita an Uber driver who claims to have been arrested.
According to the operators, before joining the digital taxi companies one must comply with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) requirements which include- possessing PSV badge, Certificate of Good Conduct and inspection certificate.
“In fact we have had several meeting with the NTSA and they have told us clearly that it is not a must that we have yellow lines. However we are shocked by actions by Central Police Station officers who have been arresting us on claims that we don’t have yellow lines and accuse us of using tinted windows. This is wrong. We have not seen this in any other police stations in Mombasa except central and this is why we need answers,” said Wilberforce Malii another driver.
They argued that as digital taxis, they operate in the most transparent approach with clear process which can be tracked on line in case of any violation of law and therefore police should stop the arrests on trumped up charges.
The charged operators said they operate differently from their counterparts in ordinary cabs in that they get clients as per requests via their online apps adding that if they are forced to paint the yellow line, then it will dilute the whole meaning of being a digital taxi.
They drove to Central Police station to demand answers from the officers.
But in a separate interview, County Commander Johnston Ipara said traffic police are guided by the NTSA regulations which stipulates that any vehicle operating as PSV will not be allowed to have tinted windows and must have a yellow line measuring 150 millimeters thick.
“We are not the formulators of the law we are only enforcing the law. So if you think the law is pressing you, just go to NTSA and clarify on that because we have no otherwise but to arrest and prosecute anyone who is violating the law of the land,” said Ipara who also advised those in the online taxi business to be cautious against importing vehicles with tinted windows.