With the increase in fuel prices in Kenya, Bolt has adjusted its prices in the country. The company says this move is to cushion its drivers from the tough economic times and the high fuel prices.
Fuel prices in Kenya have been on the rise in Kenya for more than a year but we haven’t seen the taxi hailing apps adjust their prices accordingly. Most drivers have been complaining about this saying that they are talking home very little yet the tough economic environment affects them too.
Bolt says that In Nairobi, the base fare will range between Ksh 70 and Ksh 100 across Economy, Base, Boda and XL categories. The minimum fare will now range from Ksh 200 to Ksh 250. Across all categories. The company has also introduced a long distance per kilometer rate as well. These are not major price hikes but they might cushion drivers to some extent.
Price changes will also be implemented across all categories in Mombasa, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Naivasha and Mt. Kenya region.
Taking More than 18%
As Bolt raises some of its key rates, we cannot forget that some of its drivers have accused the company of taking more than the 18% commission per ride required by the law. This is one of the issues that led to NTSA rejecting Bolt’s license renewal. Bolt denied this saying that it does not take more than 18% and that the extra amount is the booking fee it charges for every completed ride. The drivers do not feel this way and this is one of the many things that have led to their being an issue between Bolt and its partner drivers.
Bolt hopes the current stalemate will be resolved and it will keep operating in Kenya. The company has promised to invest over Ksh 15 billion in Kenya and across the region next year. It is not clear what sort of investments the company will be making but expansion to new markets seems to be on top of that list.
What They Said:
Linda Ndungu, Country Manager, said: “At Bolt, the interests of our driver community remain at the heart of our business and we truly believe that happy drivers provide better quality service for customers. As such, we have adjusted our pricing to mitigate the rising fuel costs. This adjustment reaffirms our commitment to offering top earnings for drivers on our platform, and to remain the preferred, cost-effective choice for our customers.”
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