Mombasa — Bolt and the Mombasa County Government have launched a programme to train and license 400 delivery riders, giving experienced riders a pathway to obtain National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) driving licences.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme was launched at Tononoka Social Hall on Wednesday and will require participants to undergo 21 days of accredited training at a certified driving school before taking the required assessment.
The programme seeks to formally recognise skills riders have gained through experience while ensuring they meet the requirements for licensing.
Bolt Public Policy Manager Benjamin Sulle said the initiative would help experienced riders gain formal recognition and access more opportunities in the transport and courier sector.
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"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," Sulle said.
He added that licensing would allow riders to take on work beyond food deliveries, including parcel and courier services.
The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) defines RPL as a process of identifying, assessing and certifying skills acquired through different forms of learning and experience.
Under the Mombasa programme, however, riders will complete the 21-day training before undergoing licensing assessment. NTSA oversees driving schools, driver testing and licensing.
Bolt Senior Operations Manager, Rides, Kenya, Arthur Gacharia, said the initiative was part of the company's partnership with Mombasa County to improve compliance and support riders.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir said the programme would give riders a formal route to certification while supporting the county's transport agenda.
The partnership follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Bolt and the county government in January 2026.
The agreement also covers support for local businesses to adopt digital platforms and sharing of transport data with the county to help improve planning, including the placement of electric vehicle charging points.
Bolt has committed Sh1.5 million towards rider and driver compliance, training and licensing, as well as digitisation of transport businesses in Mombasa.
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The initiative comes as government agencies and industry players increasingly use RPL to certify skills acquired outside traditional training institutions.
Earlier this month, more than 400 hospitality workers from the Coast received nationally recognised skills certification through an RPL programme implemented by the Tourism Fund and the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
For the 400 riders, the programme is expected to combine their existing experience with formal training and assessment, enabling them to participate more fully in Kenya's regulated transport and courier sector.
