Bolt hikes fares by 10 per cent to address driver pay concerns

Taxi-hailing firm Bolt has raised its fare by 10 per cent across all ride categories in response to drivers' grievances over poor pay that occasioned a nationwide strike sometime in July.

The firm on Monday announced that all rides booked through its platform will reflect a 10 per cent increase in the minimum fare. The base fare for the Economy category, for instance, will move from Sh200 to Sh220.

It says the move is expected to directly impact driver earnings positively, providing them with better returns for each trip completed.

"The additional income for drivers will also incentivise them to maintain the high standards of service to riders on the platform," it said.

The digital taxi drivers' strike in July was a result of 'lower' pricing models which the drivers termed unfair in the prevailing tough economy.

After several attempts to engage the app owners during the month turned futile, the drivers resorted to defying the apps' algorithms on fare calculation by setting their fares.

Negotiated prices

A section of them negotiated prices with their customers from the ones provided online. For those who could not get to an agreed term, their rides could be cancelled and told to find another driver.

The strike also involved drivers from other digital taxi firms; Uber, Faras and other e-taxis.

Issues of poor working environment and bad relationships with county governments' law enforcers, commonly known as 'kanjos' were also raised.

Linda Ndungu, the general manager at Bolt, said the fare adjustment is not just a price change, but also a step towards acknowledging the value of drivers.

"We believe that this move will help our drivers earn a fair wage, which in turn will allow them to continue providing the reliable and safe transportation our riders depend on," Ndungu said.

The fare increase comes at a time when the cost of living in the country has been on the rise, impacting both drivers and riders alike.

Bolt affirms that it remains committed to balancing the needs of its driver-partners while ensuring affordability and accessibility for its riders.

It however says it will continue to monitor the economic landscape and engage with all stakeholders to make any necessary adjustments in the future.

Bolt now becomes the second digital taxi firm to revise its charges after Uber, which also raised the minimum fare on its platform by 10 per cent to Sh220 from Sh200 last week.