Ride-hailing platform Bolt has issued a clarification regarding commissions and fare earnings of its electric boda riders.
This follows demonstrations on May 25th by a section of its electric boda boda riders in Nairobi, who raised concerns over reduced trip fares, high commission charges and rising operational costs.
“Bolt acknowledges today’s demonstrations by a section of our EV boda riders. We hear the concerns raised and understand that questions around earnings and fairness matter deeply to the riders who depend on our platform every day. We remain fully open to dialogue,” the statement read.
According to the riders, the current earnings model is making it difficult to sustain livelihoods despite the continued growth of app-based transport services in Nairobi.
Bolt Pricing Dispute Sparks Demonstrations in Nairobi
Bolt riders claimed that frequent fare adjustments and increased competition within the sector have reduced their take-home earnings.
Bolt said the unrest was triggered by misunderstandings around recent adjustments to EV trip pricing.
According to the company, electric boda trips had historically been priced higher than petrol-powered (ICE) rides despite lower running costs for electric motorcycles.
The company said it had corrected this “pricing anomaly” by aligning EV fares slightly below ICE equivalents, arguing that the move was meant to improve fairness across the platform rather than reduce rider income.
Riders, however, argue that the changes have effectively lowered their daily earnings, especially for those operating under loan or lease agreements for electric motorcycles.
“We would like to clarify that there was a longstanding pricing anomaly where EV trips had historically been priced higher than petrol (ICE) equivalents, which did not reflect the lower running costs of electric vehicles. We, therefore, corrected this by aligning EV pricing slightly below ICE, as a fairness adjustment, and not a reduction in earnings,” the company said
Bolt defends Commission Structure
In its statement, Bolt rejected claims that it had increased commissions or introduced hidden deductions.
The company said its commission structure remains unchanged and that circulating claims of higher deductions are inaccurate.
Bolt maintained that the platform continues to operate under the same fee model, adding that rider earnings should not be conflated with fare adjustments at the trip-pricing level.
The protests highlight broader frustrations within Kenya’s boda boda sector, which has repeatedly faced disputes over fuel prices, platform commissions, and evolving digital fare systems.
Riders temporarily disrupted operations in parts of Nairobi to demand clear communication on how earnings are calculated under the EV model.
Bolt says it is open to continued engagement with riders and stakeholders to address concerns through structured dialogue rather than confrontation.
“On commissions, nothing has changed. Our commission rates remain the same as before, and any claims that Bolt has raised or imposed excessive commissions are incorrect. Bolt remains committed to a fair, transparent, and sustainable platform for all riders. We are open to continued engagement with riders and relevant stakeholders to address any concerns through constructive dialogue,” read the statement in part.
