Bolt, the ride-hailing company formerly known as Taxify, has announced that it has terminated the contracts of 5000 drivers in Kenya due to low ratings and poor performance. The company said that the decision was made after a thorough review of the drivers’ feedback and quality metrics, and that it was necessary to ensure a high standard of service for its customers.
Bolt’s country manager, Ola Akinnusi, said that the move was part of the company’s efforts to improve customer satisfaction and safety. He said that Bolt had introduced a new rating system that allowed customers to rate their drivers on a scale of one to five stars, and that drivers who consistently received low ratings or violated the company’s policies would be removed from the platform.
The ride-hailing industry in Kenya has been growing rapidly in recent years, offering convenient, affordable, and efficient transportation options for millions of commuters. According to Statista, the revenue in the ride-hailing market in Kenya is projected to reach US$47.05 billion in 2023, with a user penetration of 13.4%. However, the market is also highly competitive and dynamic, featuring a multitude of players that are constantly innovating and expanding their services.
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1. Bolt
Bolt (formerly Taxify) is one of the most popular ride-hailing platforms in Kenya, operating in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Thika. Bolt offers a variety of services, including Bolt Go (low-cost rides), Bolt Lite (standard rides), Bolt Protect (rides with protective shields), Bolt Boda (motorcycle rides), and Bolt Business (corporate rides). Bolt also allows users to pay with cash, card, or M-Pesa. According to its website, Bolt has over 10,000 drivers and 500,000 riders in Kenya.
2. Yego
Yego is a local ride-hailing company that was launched in 2017. Yego operates in Nairobi and its environs, offering car rides, motorcycle rides, and delivery services. Yego claims to have over 15,000 drivers and 300,000 users on its platform. Yego also boasts of having the lowest commission rate for drivers (10%) and the lowest fares for riders. Yego accepts cash and M-Pesa payments.
3. Hava
Hava is another homegrown ride-hailing company that was launched in 2019. Hava operates in Nairobi and its surrounding areas, offering car rides and motorcycle rides. Hava claims to have over 5,000 drivers and 100,000 users on its platform. Hava also prides itself on having a transparent pricing model that does not include surge pricing or hidden fees. Hava accepts cash and M-Pesa payments.
4. A Nisa Taxi
A Nisa Taxi is a unique ride-hailing company that caters exclusively to women. A Nisa Taxi was founded in 2017 by Mehnaz Sarwar, a Kenyan woman who wanted to create a safe and comfortable transportation option for women. An Nisa Taxi operates in Nairobi and its suburbs, offering car rides with female drivers and female passengers only. A Nisa Taxi also provides free sanitary pads and Wi-Fi to its customers. A Nisa Taxi accepts cash and M-Pesa payments.
5. Farasi Cabs
Farasi Cabs is a relatively new entrant in the ride-hailing market in Kenya, having launched in 2020. Farasi Cabs operates in Nairobi and its neighboring counties, offering car rides and motorcycle rides. Farasi Cabs claims to have over 2,000 drivers and 50,000 users on its platform. Farasi Cabs also promises to have competitive fares and reliable service. Farasi Cabs accepts cash and M-Pesa payments.
These are some of the leading ride-hailing companies in Kenya that are competing with Uber, Little and SWVL for a share of the lucrative mobility market. Each of these companies has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and challenges. As the demand for ride-hailing services continues to grow in Kenya, we can expect to see more innovation and competition among these players.
“We have been monitoring the performance of our drivers and we have noticed that some of them have not been meeting our expectations. We have decided to expel 5000 drivers who have either received poor ratings from our customers or have been involved in incidents that compromise the safety and security of our riders,” Akinnusi said.
He added that Bolt was committed to providing reliable and affordable transportation options for its customers, and that it would continue to invest in training and incentives for its drivers. He also urged customers to always rate their drivers after each trip, and to report any issues or complaints through the app or the customer support channels.
Bolt is one of the leading ride-hailing companies in Kenya, competing with Uber, Little and SWVL. The company claims to have over 50,000 drivers and 1.5 million customers in the country. It operates in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Thika.