Bolt, the on-demand mobility platform, and the County Government of Mombasa have launched the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Licensing Programme.
The initiative gives 400 delivery riders in the county the chance to have skills built up through years of practical work formally assessed, recognised and certified.
Presided over by Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir at Tononoka Social Hall, the launch marks a first major milestone under a wider partnership between Bolt and the County Government aimed at professionalising the delivery sector, enhancing safety and expanding access to dignified economic opportunities for young people.
Recognition of Prior Learning is a formal mechanism that allows experienced riders who have never held an official qualification to have their practical know-how assessed against recognised standards, rather than starting training from scratch.
Under the programme, the 400 enrolled riders must complete 21 days of accredited training delivered by a certified driving school, after which the National Transport and Safety Authority issues their licence on the basis of demonstrated, certified competency, in line with traffic law requirements.
“This is a deliberate policy intervention to correct a long-standing imbalance between the skills thousands of young riders already have and the formal recognition the system has never given them. 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, Public Policy Manager at Bolt.
“Once they are, the opportunity extends well beyond food delivery. 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.
The programme flows from a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Bolt and the County Government of Mombasa in January 2026, a multi-year partnership that also commits Bolt to help local businesses adopt digital platforms and to share trip and demand data with the county to guide transport infrastructure planning, including the placement of EV charging points.
As part of that commitment, Bolt has invested KES 1.5 million to support rider and driver compliance, training and licensing, and the digitisation of transport businesses across the county.
“At Bolt, we believe the future of mobility is built through meaningful partnerships. The investment made into the Recognition of Prior Learning is a demonstration of our commitment to supporting Mombasa County’s vision for a modern, safe and technology-enabled transport ecosystem,” said Arthur Gacharia, Senior Operations Manager, Rides, Kenya, at Bolt.
“By working together to promote compliance, empower riders, and help local businesses embrace digital opportunities, we are investing in the long-term growth and resilience of the county’s economy,” he said.
The County Government of Mombasa welcomed the partnership, noting that collaboration with the private sector plays a critical role in driving innovation, improving service delivery and creating economic opportunities for residents.
“We are very happy to be partnering with Bolt as we launch this training for our delivery riders. Our partnership with Bolt demonstrates the value of public-private collaboration in delivering practical solutions that improve the lives of our residents,” said Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.
“By formally recognising the skills our riders already have, and giving them a clear path to a licence and a livelihood they can be proud of, this programme reflects our vision of a competitive, inclusive and future-ready Mombasa,” he said.
Beyond improving compliance, the partnership seeks to create an enabling environment for innovation by strengthening collaboration between government and technology companies.
Through regular stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing and joint initiatives, Bolt and the County Government will work together to identify opportunities that enhance urban mobility while supporting sustainable economic development.
The investment also reinforces Bolt’s broader mission of making cities more livable by improving access to safe, affordable and reliable mobility solutions.
As one of Kenya’s leading technology platforms, Bolt continues to invest in initiatives that support drivers, riders, businesses and communities while fostering constructive engagement with regulators and policymakers.
The partnership is expected to contribute to a more organised transport sector, greater adoption of digital services by small and medium-sized enterprises, and a stronger innovation ecosystem that benefits residents, visitors and businesses across Mombasa County, one of East Africa’s leading tourism and commercial hubs.
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