" NTSA rejects Bolt’s licence renewal on driver protests" 11 October 2023

Kenyan transport regulator has declined to renew the licence of taxi-hailing company Bolt over alleged breaches, including illegal commission charges and booking fee, dealing the Estonian firm a blow as it lines up fresh investments to expand its reach in the local market.

Bolt had written to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) seeking the renewal of its operating licence, with days left to its expiry. But the regulator declined the request citing mounting complaints from drivers and their representatives about alleged non-compliance and violation of regulations. Correspondence seen by the Business Daily shows that NTSA deputy director and head of licensing Cosmas Ngeso wrote to Bolt country manager Linda Ndungu last week informing her of the development that will see the firm lose its transport network company operator licence at the end of the month unless it addresses the breaches satisfactorily. “Please note that the Authority is not able to proceed with renewal of your operator licence until when the issues raised by drivers and their representatives are satisfactorily addressed and rectified,” said Mr Ngeso in the letter to Bolt on behalf of NTSA director-general George Njao.

Bolt’s current licence was issued on October 28 last year and is set to expire in the next 17 days. The Business Daily reached out to NTSA’s Mr Njao inquiring if any other taxi-hailing firm was in Bolt’s situation but he did not respond despite promising to do so. Ms Ndungu told the Business Daily the firm has been operating as a “fully compliant operator” as per the regulations and is working on the renewal process ahead of the expiry. “Bolt currently has a licence in the market, and continues to work with the regulator in the stipulated licence renewal process going forward,” she said.