Bolt has reaffirmed its pledge to adhere strictly to Kenyan regulations, underscoring its dedication to building a sustainable business model. This commitment comes a few hours after it was reported that the NTSA had rejected Bolt’s licence renewal citing alleged breaches that include illegal commission charges and booking fees. The company has not addressed these concerns in its response but gave a blanket statement promising to comply with regulations and increasing investments in the country.
“In response to the ongoing conversations on our licence renewal, Bolt would like to reaffirm our commitment to the Kenyan market. Adherence to Kenyan regulations remains a top priority as it is foundational to building a long-term sustainable business that positively contributes to all stakeholders in the ecosystem. We remain open to collaborative dialogue with our regulator, driver partners and the wider public to continually ensure full compliance with regulation and expand income generation within our platform,” said Bolt in a statement.
Bolt’s licenCe is still valid as the company has pointed out. “As such, Bolt currently has a valid licence and is fully operational. As part of the ongoing annual licence renewal process, we will continue to work closely with the regulator for a fruitful result,” read the statement from the company.
Bolt’s says its approach to regulatory compliance is not just about meeting requirements; it’s about engaging in collaborative dialogue. The company seeks input from regulators, driver partners, and the wider public, fostering an atmosphere of openness and cooperation.
Bolt also addressed the commission it takes for every ride saying that it caps that at 18% as required by law and at par with other taxi hailing services. Some drivers argue that this is not the case saying that Bolt takes more than that for every ride they take. The company says it chargers passengers a booking fee which is in addition to the 18% it takes for every ride a driver completes. “To ensure efficiency on our platform and the continued innovation and enhancement of our technological features, Bolt charges a fixed percentage booking fee that is paid by the passenger,” read the statement.
Increased Investment in Kenya
In a move aimed at softening the Government’s stance, Bolt has announced that it will be investing over Ksh 15 Billion in the market in 2024. This will help it further increase its footprint across the country. The company wasn’t specific on such investments and all we can do is wait and see what will happen.
Safety Issues with Bolt
Bolt has had a number of safety concerns raised by its customers over the years. Some have even been attacked by the drivers but the company has never really addressed any of these. These are some of the issues that really rub people the wrong way as safety should be a priority. Uber has a number of safety options that it has implemented on its app with Bolt really having none. I have heard that the company may be working on some safety features that it plans to implement in Kenya over the coming weeks or months. I will be watching this closely to see how it turns out.
Read: NTSA Licenses Nine Additional Online Taxi Operators in Kenya, Bringing Total to 14
