Bolt is marking 10 years of operations in Kenya after investing more than KSh19 billion in the local market, connecting over 8 million riders.
The ride-hailing platform has also created income opportunities for more than 170,000 drivers and couriers.
“Kenya is not a market we entered lightly, and after ten years, it is certainly not one we take for granted. Over the past decade, we have seen ride-hailing evolve from a new technology into an important source of income and economic opportunity for thousands of Kenyans,” said Dimmy Kanyankole, Senior General Manager, Rides, East Africa.
Bolt Expands Operations Across Kenya
Bolt entered Kenya in 2016, when app-based ride-hailing was still emerging as an alternative to traditional transport services. Over the past decade, the company says it has expanded to six regions and 19 towns, covering Nairobi, the Coast, Western Kenya, Central Kenya, the North Rift and the Mt Kenya region.
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The company said its investment has supported technology infrastructure, driver support programs, safety initiatives and expansion of its operations.
Bolt’s activities have also supported businesses around the ride-hailing industry, including vehicle financing, insurance, smartphone sales, mobile data services, automotive servicing and vehicle maintenance.
Dimmy Kanyankole, Senior General Manager, Rides, East Africa, said Kenya had become an important market for the company and that ride-hailing had evolved into a significant source of economic opportunity.
He said the platform had enabled drivers to earn income with greater flexibility while participating in an increasingly digital economy.
The company’s decade-long expansion comes as more Kenyans turn to digital platforms for both transportation and income generation.
Ride-hailing becomes a major part of the gig economy
Bolt’s anniversary comes against the backdrop of rapid growth in Kenya’s gig economy.
The 2026 Bolt Kenya & Ipsos Gig Economy Report, released in March, estimates that approximately 1.5 million workers now participate in Kenya’s gig economy, which generates more than KSh130 billion annually.
The report found that ride-hailing accounts for approximately 20% of gig economy activity in Kenya, making it the second-largest category after e-commerce.
The study also examined the impact of ride-hailing on workers’ livelihoods. According to the findings, 98% of ride-hailing participants surveyed said their standard of living had improved since joining a platform, with 54% describing the improvement as significant.
Drivers on the Bolt platform reported average monthly earnings of about KSh63,000, while the top 20% earned as much as KSh184,000 per month.
Boda boda riders recorded average monthly earnings of KSh56,000, while 53% of drivers surveyed identified Bolt as their primary income source.
The figures illustrate how ride-hailing has moved beyond transportation to become an important income source for thousands of Kenyans working within the country’s expanding platform-based economy.
Also Read: Bolt Send Expands to Motorbikes in Mombasa as Demand for Faster Deliveries Grows
Bolt Pushes Electric Mobility and Future Expansion
Bolt has also linked its operations in Kenya to the country’s growing transition towards electric mobility.
The company says that as of 2026, seven in every 10 electric vehicles operating in Kenya do so on the Bolt platform. It has supported the adoption of electric and lower-emission vehicles through driver incentive programs and partnerships intended to make EV ownership more accessible.
The company says it will continue investing in driver welfare, safety, product innovation and sustainability as it enters its second decade in Kenya.
Bolt also plans to expand access to electric and lower-emission vehicles, improve earning opportunities for drivers and couriers and increase its presence in secondary cities across the country.
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