Uber Safety Under Scrutiny As Sexual Assault Trial Begins

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, January 12, 2026 - Uber faces a landmark sexual assault trial in Arizona this week, a case that could significantly influence how courts hold ride-hailing companies accountable for crimes committed by drivers booked through their platforms. The lawsuit, brought by a woman who says she was raped by an Uber driver, represents one of more than 3,000 similar claims consolidated in U.S. federal court and has put the company’s safety record under intense scrutiny.

The case centers on Jaylynn Dean, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a driver she booked through the Uber app in 2023. The lawsuit claims Uber knew of a pattern of sexual assaults by its drivers and failed to implement basic safety measures, such as more stringent background checks and reporting systems that alert law enforcement to serious incidents, yet continued to present its platform as safe.

Uber, which classifies its drivers as independent contractors, argues it should not be held liable for crimes outside the scope of a driver’s duties and maintains that it has taken significant steps to boost safety, including technology upgrades, background screenings, and partnerships with advocacy groups.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer rejected Uber’s bid to delay the trial after the company raised concerns about prejudicial advertising by the plaintiff’s legal team, clearing the way for jury selection this week. Legal experts describe the case as a “bellwether” a test case that could help determine how other pending suits are valued or resolved.

Uber’s trial comes amid broader global concerns about ride-hailing safety. In Egypt in 2024, a court sentenced an Uber driver to 15 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a woman passenger; the driver had disabled the app’s tracking feature before the attack, raising questions about platform trust and driver vetting.

In Kenya, ride-hailing platforms like Bolt have faced their own safety controversies. In August 2025, Bolt suspended a driver after a sexual assault claim was posted on social media, and the company reiterated a zero-tolerance policy and cooperation with authorities while emphasizing ongoing safety investments, including awareness campaigns and in-app features designed to protect passengers.

Safety discussions in Kenya have also been shaped by other disturbing incidents involving taxi passengers and drivers. A video circulated in late 2025 showed a group of women allegedly assaulting and vandalising a taxi driver’s vehicle after a fare dispute in Nairobi, prompting public outrage and condemnation from the State Department for Gender Affairs, which called for accountability and legal action.

Ride-hailing companies have attempted to boost safety protocols worldwide. Uber has introduced features such as in-app emergency assistance, ride verification, and real- time monitoring. Industry critics say these tools are useful but argue that more structural safeguards are needed, such as stronger screening before onboarding drivers, automatic law-enforcement alerts for serious incidents, and more coordinated reporting with national authorities.

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In Kenya, regulators and platforms have also explored new collaborations. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has worked with Uber and Bolt to crack down on rogue drivers and improve accountability, including mechanisms for suspending recidivist drivers and sharing offender data for disciplinary action.

Critics of ride-hailing safety systems say many incidents, especially sexual harassment or assault, are under-reported. In matatus (minibuses) and other public transport settings in Kenya, women have spoken out about unwanted touching, groping and other abuses, and most incidents go unreported, reflecting wider cultural and institutional barriers to justice.

Some ride-hailing safety initiatives aim to empower users with tools such as female-driver options and in-car video reporting. Bolt, for example, introduced a “Bolt Women” service in Kenya in 2021 to allow passengers to request female drivers for greater comfort and safety.

The Arizona trial could shape future litigation in the U.S. and beyond by clarifying when a platform can be held civilly liable for a driver’s criminal acts. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argue Uber has been on notice about sexual misconduct reports for years but failed to act sufficiently; internal filings suggest riders seek safety measures such as improved background checks, enhanced reporting to law enforcement, and robust response systems.

Rideshare lawsuits are not unique to Uber. Rival Lyft faces similar claims in both state and federal courts. The outcomes of these cases could influence global standards for platform accountability, particularly as gig-economy models spread into more markets.

As the Arizona bellwether trial proceeds, investors, policymakers and users alike will be monitoring both the legal arguments and public safety commitments being debated. For victims of assault and communities concerned about personal security, the case raises urgent questions about how far digital platforms must go to make their services genuinely safe, and who should bear responsibility when they fail.