A nationwide strike by digital hailing app drivers in Kenya is aggravating the civil unrest in the East African country.

The drivers took to the streets, mostly of the increasingly volatile capital Nairobi, on Monday and are to continue with their protest actions over the coming days, as they demand higher wages and oppose higher taxation, among other issues.

The drivers also bemoan failing relations with county (provincial) governments over requests for parking bays, and allege extortion by metropolitan traffic personnel.

This strike organised by the Online Drivers Association could not have come at a worse time for the ever more restless Kenya, with protests by the Gen Z movement on Tuesday (today) set to be the biggest in weeks.

The protest action by e-hailing app drivers includes taxi and delivery services from Bolt, Faras, Little Cab Kenya and Uber.

The more prominent, Bolt and Uber, have previously threatened to pull out of Kenya over proposed taxes.

Reports emerged on Monday suggesting that striking drivers had been forcing passengers out of the vehicles of non-participating drivers.

Protesting drivers gathered and marched to the Nairobi City Council and to the offices of their respective e-hailing apps. Some e-hailing drivers that did not partake in the protests reported their vehicles had been vandalized by striking colleagues.

“Further protests are likely near governmental buildings, including parliament and the Ministry of Transport,” the security think-tank, Crisis24, forecast.

Clashes between striking drivers and security services, as well as with non-striking drivers, are feared, with acts of aggression towards bystanders or passengers not ruled out.

E-hailing drivers went on strike in 2019 and 2022 over what they term poor working conditions and demands that the 18 percent commission charged on their rides be lowered.

The commission remains in place, amid pressure piling on President William Ruto's administration bedevilled by debt.

Growing into a global phenomenon, Gen Z is to stage its sixth “Tuesday is Tuesday” protest against the under-fire government of Ruto, whose resignation they demand.