Bolt has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross to equip more than 500 boda boda riders with basic first aid, emergency response and road safety skills within the first year of the programme.
The initiative has begun with a pilot cohort of 75 Bolt riders who completed a four-hour practical training session delivered by the Kenya Red Cross Training Institute (KRCTI).
The training covered essential first aid techniques, appropriate responses during emergencies, activation of emergency support and road safety. The 75 participants have since been certified and recognised as Community First Aid Ambassadors, receiving certificates and branded badges to recognise their participation.
Boda boda riders form a highly visible and mobile part of Kenya’s transport network, travelling through communities throughout the day. The programme aims to equip them with practical knowledge that can help them respond appropriately when they encounter emergencies while understanding when professional assistance is required.
Bolt Senior Operations Manager, Rides, Arthur Gacharia, said the initiative goes beyond safety during rides by equipping people within the company’s ecosystem with skills that can support safer communities. Bolt aims to expand the programme from the initial 75 riders to more than 500 during the first year.
Patrick Sakwa, one of the newly certified ambassadors, said the training provided participants with knowledge on how to respond safely to emergencies, understand the limits of their training and activate professional help when necessary.
Monica Orero, Director of Training and Capacity Building at KRCTI, said the partnership supports the Kenya Red Cross mission of strengthening emergency preparedness and response.
According to Orero, the Kenya Red Cross recorded 1,273 rider fatalities, 2,768 serious injuries and 720 minor injuries in the previous year. The figures were cited in the context of the need for stronger road safety and emergency preparedness.
The programme does not train riders to become medical professionals or replace emergency responders. Instead, it focuses on basic assistance within the limits of their training while ensuring professional emergency services are activated when required.
The initial cohort will also provide feedback and insights that Bolt and Kenya Red Cross can use to refine the programme as they expand training to more riders and communities.
