A Kenyan taxi ride-hailing driver, who operates a Suzuki Wagon R branded with the Bolt logo, shared insights into his experience working in the industry. For the past two years, he has been driving this partner-owned vehicle, which is known for its fuel efficiency and affordable maintenance costs.
The car is valued between Sh. 850,000 and Sh. 1 million, and as part of the arrangement, the driver pays Sh. 9,000 weekly to the vehicle owner.
To maximize his earnings, the driver uses four primary ride-hailing apps: Bolt, Uber, Little Cab, and Yego. Although he initially included Faras in his mix, he dropped it in favor of focusing on these four platforms, which he finds to be more profitable.
One of the additional income streams for the driver is the branding on his car. Bolt compensates him Sh. 2,350 weekly for hitting a target of 65 trips, contributing an extra Sh. 9,400 monthly. According to the driver, Bolt is the most reliable app and attracts the highest number of customers.
On busy days, especially during peak times such as rainy weather, he can earn up to Sh. 7,000 from Bolt alone. His strategy involves capitalizing on high-demand periods and ensuring he maintains a high rating and excellent acceptance score to secure more trips.
Familiarity with customer patterns also plays a role in optimizing earnings. For example, Uber is busiest in areas like Westlands and Kileleshwa, while all four apps tend to do well in the Nairobi CBD. Little Cab, which is popular with corporate clients, has a higher starting fare of Sh. 250 but fewer riders compared to Bolt and Uber. This makes it a preferred option for the driver during heavy traffic, as it offers better pay for time spent on the road.
In terms of weekly earnings, Bolt is the main contributor. After a 16% commission, the driver earns about Sh. 36,420 weekly from Bolt, or Sh. 91,770 monthly. Both Uber and Little Cab bring in around Sh. 5,000 weekly. With the additional income from branding, his gross weekly earnings total approximately Sh. 50,000.
However, his expenses reduce his take-home pay. The driver spends about Sh. 2,500 daily on fuel, amounting to Sh. 15,000 weekly. Commissions across all platforms total roughly Sh. 12,500 weekly, while the car lease costs Sh. 9,000 per week. Airtime and internet expenses add another Sh. 1,000 weekly. After accounting for all these deductions, he estimates his monthly earnings from ride-hailing to be around Sh. 50,000.
The driver emphasized that while ride-hailing apps can be a profitable venture for those willing to put in the effort, success requires careful planning and positioning to take full advantage of the best opportunities.
