Ride-hailing firm Bolt expands into three additional towns in Kenya

Estonian ride-hailing firm Bolt (previously Taxify), has expanded into additional towns across Kenya namely; Thika, Kisumu and Kakamega.

The move serves to step up the competition against its rivals in the country, mainly Little and Uber, who have already been operating in these regions.

The firm established its operations in Nairobi and Mombasa back in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Bolt Country Manager in Kenya, Ola Akinnusi, said, “After Nairobi and Mombasa cities, it was natural that Bolt would gradually expand across the country. We now intend to build new communities in Kisumu, Kakamega and Thika as we continue to gain the trust of the Kenyan people,” he continues, “Launching in these areas will allow us to provide a safe and affordable avenue for passengers to get a ride.”

Related article: Ride-hailing company Bolt expands to two new states in Nigeria

Bolt charges a 15% commission to its drivers, which is close to half of fees charged by competing platforms.

Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi, Mr Akinnusi goes on to say, “We are always looking out for partnerships and opportunities that will enable drivers to reduce the cost of doing business and have better earnings. We have always believed that happy drivers translate into better customer service for the riders.”