This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Published on October 14, 2019, Bolt, a ride-hailing app, is set to expand its services to semi-urban towns in Kenya, according to the company's General Manager for East Africa, Kenneth Micah.
Speaking to Business Today, Mr. Micah revealed that the Estonia-headquartered company is pleased with its performance in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Naivasha, Kakamega, and Thika, and is now looking to tap into other towns with potential.
"I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the Kenyan market to our business," Mr. Micah said. "We are conducting market research on which towns are viable, looking at factors such as employment levels and customer tastes and preferences."
The company aims to start operating in the new towns by Christmas, capitalizing on the festive season frenzy.
Mr. Micah attributed the company's good performance in September to the arrivals of American Televangelist T.D Jakes and Jamaican Dancehall Artist Konshens in the country, which contributed to a combination of factors that made the month an exception.
Regarding the recent fare hike, Mr. Micah explained that the company factored in macroeconomic factors such as inflation and increasing costs of service before making the decision.
"We are well aware that affordability is key. Before we make such decisions, we consider factors like drivers' take-home pay and customers' willingness to pay," Mr. Micah said.
