Bolt Kenya Hikes Fares Across Its Platforms

Bolt country manager Linda Ndung’u said the price increase will motivate their drivers to deliver quality services.

Taxi hailing company Bolt has increased fare prices in Kenya to cushion drivers from the recently increased fuel prices.

In a statement, Bolt Kenya said it has increased base fares from the current Ksh.70 to Ksh.100 across its driver platforms of Economy, Base, Boda and XL.

“The minimum fare has also been increased, with a range of Ksh.200 and Ksh.250 across the categories. Bolt has also increased per kilometre pricing and introduced a long-distance rate,” read the statement.

Further, Bolt country manager Linda Ndung’u said the price increase will motivate their drivers to deliver quality services.

Chaos reported in Huruma following police shooting. — Traffic police stops motorists on highway. PHOTO/Courtesy.

“The interests of our driver community remain at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that happy drivers provide better quality service for customers. As such, we have adjusted our pricing to mitigate the rising fuel cost,” said Ndung’u.

“This adjustment reaffirms our commitment to offering top earnings for drivers on our platform, and to remain the preferred cost-effective choice for our customers,” she added.

Bolt said the price changes will be implemented in the Mombasa, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Naivasha and Mount Kenya regions.

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Fuel Prices

On October 14, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo announced that Super Petrol will retail at Ksh.217.36 per liter in Nairobi, Diesel at Ksh.205.47, and Kerosene at Ksh.205.06 for the October – November period.

This was an increase Ksh.5.72 per liter for super petrol, Ksh.4.48 for diesel and Ksh.2.45 for Kerosene.

In Mombasa, motorists will pay a maximum of Ksh.241.30 for one liter of Super Petrol, Ksh.202.41 for Diesel, and Ksh.210.99.

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Kiptoo said the state will reinstate the stabilization program through the petroleum development levy to cushion Kenyans from further hikes.

According to EPRA, the subsidy will save Kenyans from paying an extra Ksh.3.07 for Super Petro, Ksh.11.64 for Diesel and Ksh.9.60 for Kerosene.

In the previous review released in September, EPRA set fuel prices at a record high with the price of Super Petrol surpassing the Ksh.200 mark to retail at a minimum of Ksh.211 per liter in Nairobi.

Likewise, the price of one liter of Diesel rose by Ksh. 21.32 to retail at Ksh. 200.99 while that of Kerosene rose by Ksh. 33.13 to retail at Ksh. 202.61 in Nairobi.