Bolt Grows to Nairobi’s Largest EV Ride-Hailing Platform

Bolt has reached a major milestone in Kenya’s mobility landscape, officially becoming Nairobi’s largest electric motorbike ride-hailing operator. With more than 40% of its boda boda fleet now electric, the company has positioned itself at the forefront of the country’s green transport transition. This rapid expansion not only surpasses industry competitors but also reinforces Kenya’s growing reputation as a continental leader in clean mobility adoption.

This growth has been significantly accelerated through Bolt’s strategic partnership with M-KOPA, which has enabled over 1,700 riders to access electric motorbikes through flexible pay-as-you-go financing. By removing the high upfront cost typically associated with EVs, Bolt and M-KOPA have unlocked opportunities for thousands of riders to embrace cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable alternatives. The company has achieved its 2025 electrification targets months ahead of schedule — a clear indicator of strong market readiness.

Industry leaders acknowledge the economic and environmental impact of this transition. With fuel prices remaining unpredictable, electric motorbikes offer riders a dramatically lower cost of operation, reduced maintenance expenses, and greater income stability. Bolt’s 4.8 million EV rides recorded over the past year underline both rider adoption and rising consumer preference for environmentally conscious transport options. This momentum complements Kenya’s National E-mobility Policy aimed at reducing emissions and promoting local EV assembly.

Bolt’s leadership team emphasizes that this milestone is as much about improved livelihoods as it is about sustainability. By enabling riders to shift from fuel-powered to electric alternatives, the company is demonstrating how climate-friendly innovation can directly improve daily earnings. M-KOPA’s leadership has echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strong appetite among riders when financial barriers are eliminated. The success of this model challenges other mobility platforms to accelerate their own electrification strategies in an increasingly competitive ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Bolt plans to expand its electric fleet even further in 2026 through new financing partnerships and collaborations with charging infrastructure providers. As local EV manufacturers like Roam and Ampersand scale up assembly efforts, Kenya’s mobility sector is entering a transformative phase. Bolt’s achievement signals a new standard for the ride-hailing industry — one where affordability, sustainability, and innovation move in the same direction to shape the future of urban transport.