Over the past few years, the ride-hailing app Bolt has come under increasing pressure to review, update, change, adopt, and adapt to new marketplace realities even as the competition struggles to keep up with the top 3 ride-hailing apps in the country. Bolt in Kenya has been a revelation since its entry into the local market.
The rise and rise of motorcycle taxis in all major towns and cities has played a big role in redefining how ride-hailing apps approach customer needs. Even though Bolt has motorcycle options on the app, the proliferation of multiple marketplace informalities has stifled its efficiency. There is the existential issue of state and non-state actors in shaping the marketplace as well as the ever-shifting relationship between the legal system, the people who shape it, and those who are supposed to nurture it.
In October Kenya’s transport regulator (the National Transport and Safety Authority – NTSA) rejected Bolt’s request to have their license renewed on alleged illegal commission charges and booking fee breaches. This was a major hitch in the company’s planned expansion in the country and in the region.
In October, a video was making rounds on social media of a Bolt driver in Nairobi allegedly exposing his private parts while ferrying female passengers. In a statement, Bolt in Kenya said it was engaging the passengers and had discontinued the services of the driver, whose personal details including phone number and car registration numbers were widely shared online.
“Bolt, as part of its zero tolerance for this type of behavior, has suspended the mentioned driver from providing any further services on our platform. We are also actively engaging with the affected rider, and once again take this opportunity to express our sincere concern and empathy over this unfortunate incident. We remain committed to promptly addressing and continuously supporting our valued clients during such difficult moments. At Bolt, the safety of our drivers and passengers remains our highest priority. We remain committed to vigilance and swift response in handling such incidents,” Bolt in Kenya said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Bolt’s increasing success in Kenya has seen it expand its geographical reach in the country to nearly all major towns and cities.
Kenya is a complex market for ride-hailing apps and taxis. The multiple legal reforms regarding data security, personal security, and licensing make it difficult for most companies to set up a longer-lasting corporate strategy or efficiently predict marketplace outcomes.
In other markets including the United Kingdom, Bolt committed to allowing its drivers to set their own fares in an attempt to drive down the rates of cancellations and to allow customers to make their own choices across various available options. Its more than 65,000 drivers serve at least 4 million people across the UK. This level of flexibility as well as the relaxation of various operational procedures will be key in expanding Bolt’s dominance across multiple markets on the continent.
Bolt in Kenya has fair recruitment procedure that cab drivers have embraced since the beginning of their operations.
Bolt In Kenya Requirements For Drivers
For you to be driver for Bolt in Kenya, you need to meet each of the following requirements/conditions;
- Provide a clear photo of the vehicle
- Provide a passport-size photo
- National ID Card or Passport
- Driving license for the vehicle
- PSV Driving License
- The Vehicle’s logbook
- NTSA Sticker or NTSA Report
- PSV Insurance sticker
- Police clearance certificate
- A Smartphone with GPS
Bolt in Kenya aims to build and sustain a better marketplace for customers and its network of drivers. This has come under immense scrutiny in the recent past over alleged breaches of labor laws and legal breaches.
There is also the small issue of accepted cars for the ride-hailing app. For drivers looking to venture into taxi services, see below the list of accepted cars.
Bolt In Kenya accepted cars
- Bolt TukTuk – accepted TukTuk’s are version 2013 or newer. These are mostly used in Kisumu and Kakamega
- Bolt Boda – the motorcycle in this case has to be 2013 or newer. It carries only one passenger. This has already been rolled out in Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Naivasha, Eldoret, Kitale, Mombasa, and Nairobi.
- Bolt Lite – Bolt lite are cars with engine capacities of between 650cc and 1500cc; they also have to be 2011 or newer and have been rolled in Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nairobi
- Bolt Base – This category comprises hatchback, sedan, or station wagon. These have rolled out in Mombasa, Nairobi, Eldoret and Kakamega. The accepted versions are 2012 for Nairobi, 2010 for Mombasa, and 2008 for towns such as Eldoret and Kakamega
- Bolt Green – To enroll here, you need a car manufactured within the last 10 years and have more than 4 passengers.
The salaries range from Ksh 2,000 to Ksh 5,000 for full-time drivers in various cities and major towns in the country.
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