Nairobi recorded a sharp surge in ride-hailing activity over the Valentine’s Day weekend, with new data from Bolt placing Nyayo Stadium and several of the city’s leading shopping malls at the centre of mobility demand.
According to internal platform data, Nyayo Stadium emerged as the single busiest destination, registering more than 4,000 completed trips to and from the venue. The spike followed the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS tournament, which drew international teams and thousands of fans to the capital. Bolt partnered with Capital FM as the official mobility provider for the event.
The figures underscore the growing influence of sport and entertainment on urban movement patterns, with large-scale events increasingly driving peak transport demand across the city.
“Nyayo Stadium stood out as the single busiest destination on our platform this Valentine’s. This reflects not only the impact of major international tournaments like the HSBC SVNS, but also the trust riders place in Bolt to get them to high-traffic events safely and reliably.” Dimmy Kanyankole, Senior General Manager, Bolt, East Africa said.
Beyond the stadium, Nairobi’s retail and lifestyle hubs recorded significant trip volumes. BBS Mall, Sarit Centre, Garden City Mall, Thika Road Mall, Yaya Centre, Eastleigh Mall and Greenspan Mall all ranked among the most visited destinations, pointing to strong consumer activity driven by dining, entertainment and last-minute Valentine’s shopping.
Transport and commercial nodes also featured prominently in the data. The Kenya National Archives, Afya Centre, Imenti House, Odeon Cinema and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport recorded sustained ride activity, indicating a mix of leisure travel, business movement and airport transfers during the holiday.
The strong performance across multiple locations highlights the role of ride-hailing platforms in managing demand during peak periods. Bolt said driver-partner supply remained stable across key corridors, allowing riders to access transport during high-traffic moments linked to both the rugby tournament and Valentine’s Day outings.
“As the city comes alive for major cultural and sporting moments, reliable mobility becomes critical. Our data shows that whether it was fans heading to Nyayo Stadium for world-class rugby or couples visiting Nairobi’s favourite malls, Bolt remained the platform of choice,” Dimmy added.
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