Ride hailing platform Bolt has said that its highest-earning drivers in Kenya grossed more than KSh 1.2 million each in the first half of 2025, underscoring the growing profitability of the business in the expanding gig economy.
The company said its top 50 drivers made an average of KSh 1.28 million between January and June, translating to about KSh 213,000 a month, well above the typical white-collar wage in Kenya.The figures, including trip payments, bonuses, and incentives, highlight strong demand for ride-hailing services in Nairobi and other urban centers.Bolt credited driver support programs, incentive schemes, and platform improvements for boosting earnings among its most active partners.
“The latest earnings report shows that drivers who consistently engage on our platform can achieve strong financial returns,” Dimmy Kanyankole, General Manager – Bolt Kenya.
The disclosure comes as competition in Kenya’s e-hailing sector intensifies and drivers face rising operating costs from fuel and vehicle maintenance. While Bolt’s top earners illustrate the upside of gig work, the company did not release the median or average earnings for all driver’s on its platform, leaving questions about how representative the KSh 1.2 million benchmark is across its wider driver base.
Bolt, which operates in more than 50 countries, counts over 4.5 million drivers globally. In Kenya, the platform has positioned itself as a key player in urban transport, offering thousands of drivers flexible work while tapping into a fast-growing market for affordable and accessible rides.
The company also reports a growing demand for structured ride-hailing services in the corporate sector, where firms are turning to Bolt to cut reimbursement paperwork and provide safer, more reliable mobility for staff. Bolt Business recorded a 46% growth in Kenya this year as more than 2,000 companies adopted the platform for employee travel.