Nairobi, Kenya, 7th September 2026 – Bolt, the leading on-demand mobility platform, is marking a decade of operations in Kenya after investing more than KSh19 billion (€130+ million) in the country, connecting more than 8 million riders and creating income opportunities for more than 170,000 drivers and couriers since entering the market in 2016. Bolt has also expanded its footprint to six regions and 19 towns across Kenya, spanning Nairobi, the Coast, Western Kenya, Central and North Rift, and the Mt Kenya region.
What began as a new entrant in Kenya’s emerging ride-hailing market has grown into one of the country’s most-used mobility platforms, reflecting the rapid evolution of app-based transport and the wider gig economy over the past decade.
Bolt’s ten-year milestone comes as gig work becomes an increasingly important part of Kenya’s labour market. The 2026 Bolt Kenya & Ipsos Gig Economy Report, released in March, estimates that the country’s gig economy now supports approximately 1.5 million workers and generates more than KSh130 billion (approximately US$1.2 billion) annually. The independent study, one of the most comprehensive assessments of gig work in Kenya to date, also highlights the role ride-hailing plays in improving livelihoods. 98% of ride-hailing participants surveyed reported an improvement in their standard of living since joining the platform, with 54% describing the improvement as significant.
For drivers on the Bolt platform, the report found average monthly earnings of KSh63,000, while the top 20% earn up to KSh184,000 per month. Boda boda riders earn an average of KSh56,000 monthly, while 53% of drivers surveyed identified Bolt as their primary source of income. These figures point to a broader shift in how Kenyans access income and how work is organised, with ride-hailing emerging as an important component of the country’s growing digital economy.
Dimmy Kanyankole, Senior General Manager, Rides, East Africa, said: “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. For many drivers, our platform has provided a way to earn, work with greater flexibility and participate in an increasingly digital economy. As we look to the next decade, our commitment is to continue investing in Kenya and expanding the opportunities that technology can create for drivers, businesses and communities across the country.”
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Over the past decade, Bolt has invested more than KSh19 billion in the Kenyan market, supporting technology infrastructure, driver support programmes, safety initiatives and expansion across the country. Bolt’s operations have also contributed to the wider ecosystem that has developed around app-based mobility, including vehicle financing, insurance, smartphone sales and data consumption, as well as automotive servicing and maintenance.
According to the gig economy report, ride-hailing now accounts for approximately 20% of all gig economy activity in Kenya, making it the second-largest category after e-commerce. The growth of the sector has also coincided with changing expectations around how Kenyans work, with flexibility and the ability to generate income through digital platforms becoming increasingly important to workers.
Bolt’s decade in Kenya has also coincided with a significant shift in the country’s transport landscape, including the emergence of electric mobility. As of 2026, seven in every ten electric vehicles operating in Kenya do so on the Bolt platform, reflecting Bolt’s investment in electric vehicle adoption and driver incentive programmes. Bolt has continued to support the transition by expanding access to electric and lower-emission vehicles, including through partnerships that make EV ownership more accessible to drivers.
Looking ahead, Bolt will continue investing in driver welfare, safety, product innovation and sustainability, while expanding access to electric and lower-emission vehicles, improving earning opportunities for drivers and couriers and growing its presence in secondary cities across the country.
