Amid a big battle between Uber Kenya and Kenya’s 37 motorcycle riders whose deactivation from the app has caused them their livelihoods, the East African country’s high court ruled in favor of the drivers, not Uber. Here’s the scoop.
Kenya’s High Court said “No!” to Uber Kenya’s attempt to exit themselves from the case filed by the 37 motorcycle riders, saying their accounts were deactivated without explanation, cutting off their earnings and leaving them struggling to repay their loans for electric motorcycles.
The judge, David Mburu, decided that Uber Kenya must remain present in the proceedings because their role in the disputed deactivations and account suspensions is crucial, and requires examination at a substantive hearing.
However, the decision clarified that it doesn’t establish the company violated the riders’ rights, but it lets the cause to proceed with the Kenyan entity still involved.
The riders allege that they got deactivated from the platform without notice, reason for them to file the case. Also, their petition invokes constitutional protections for fair administrative action, access to information and consumer rights, arguing that the suspensions deprived them of their livelihood.
A petition was filed in March 2026, highlighting the financial or monetary consequences of losing access to a platform used to generate income. The drivers stated they financed their motorcycles, but struggled to repay their sources after their accounts were suspended. The source of the funds also re-possessed their motorcycles, since they cannot repay.
What’s worse, the riders told Ridesharingforum.com that their repeated requests for explanations were unanswered, including a formal demand last December. They sought information about why their accounts had been deactivated, the alleged misconduct behind the decisions and the evidence used to justify the suspensions. They join other issues of other drivers from other locations whose accounts got deactivated without their notice.
This petition challenges the process through which they lost grip on the access to the platform, raising inquries about whether their decisions complied with the constitutional requirements for fairness and access to information. It also concerns what avenues workers need to challenge to keep their jobs afloat.
As for the financial stakes, they extend beyond lost fares or wages for the drivers. The riders must still be able to meet their repayment obligations, and this could be difficult when they cannot work. The affected riders say the suspensions left them facing financial hardship and the risk of losing the vehicles they relied on to generate income. Yikes!
Uber Kenya currently does not want to fully hold themselves acountable and responsible for this matter, arguing that the repossessions of their motorcycles are between the drivers and the sources of the finances, not Uber. The court has not determined liability for the alleged financial harm.
So, Uber Kenya is disputing responsibility for account suspensions, wanting really to exit from the case. Court states, meanwhile, that Kenya’s role rquires examination.
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