Kenya: Uber car burned in tensions with traditional taxis

A Kenya police official says a second Uber taxi has been burned as tensions rise between the fast growing ride-hailing service and conventional taxis.

Nairobi Police chief Japheth Koome said today that a man hired the Uber taxi to the outskirts of the capital and led the driver to a dark alley.

Koome said the driver told police he saw four men approach the car and managed to escape from the men who were trying to restrain him. Koome said the car was completely burned.

In late February an Uber car was burned by unknown assailants. Taxi operators last month asked the government to stop the operations of Uber, which has become popular because of its cheaper fares.