Bolt and the Mombasa County Government have launched a programme to help 400 experienced riders obtain formal licences through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The programme, launched Wednesday, August 26, at Tononoka Social Hall, will see the riders undergo 21 days of accredited training before they are assessed and licensed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

The initiative targets riders who have worked informally for years but do not hold the qualifications required to operate legally.

Bolt said the licences will be issued based on demonstrated and certified competency in line with traffic law requirements.

📌 What You Need to Know

“A licence has to be earned through demonstrated, certified competency, which is why every rider on this programme completes 21 days of accredited training before they are licensed,” said Benjamin Sulle, Bolt’s public policy manager.

Under RPL, experienced riders can have their existing practical skills assessed against recognised standards instead of starting their training from scratch.

Bolt has invested Ksh1.5 million in the programme, which forms part of a wider partnership with Mombasa County signed in January 2026.

The agreement also covers support for local businesses to adopt digital platforms and the sharing of trip and demand data to help the county plan transport infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging points.

Sulle said the licensing programme could also open access to the formal courier economy for riders.

“Bolt is the only platform in Kenya with a national courier licence, and that opens access to parcels and the wider formal courier economy for riders who are properly licensed to take part in it,” he said.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke