Bolt, the leading on-demand mobility platform, has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross to equip more than 500 boda boda riders with basic first aid, emergency activation and road safety skills within the first year of the programme.
The initiative has started with a pilot cohort of 75 Bolt riders, who have completed a four-hour practical training delivered by the Kenya Red Cross Training Institute (KRCTI).
The training covered essential first aid techniques, appropriate response in emergency situations, activation of emergency support and road safety.
The initial 75 riders have now been certified and publicly recognised as Community First Aid Ambassadors, receiving certificates, and branded gear badges to recognise their participation and commitment to supporting safer communities.
Boda boda riders are a highly visible and mobile part of Kenya’s transport network, travelling through communities throughout the day and potentially being among those closest to incidents on the road.
The partnership recognises an opportunity to equip riders with practical knowledge that can help them respond appropriately when they encounter an emergency, while understanding the limits of their training and the importance of activating professional emergency services.
The initiative is built around a simple premise: the ability to respond appropriately in the first moments of an emergency should not be limited to professional responders.
Arthur Gacharia, Senior Operations Manager, Rides at Bolt giving his remarks at Kenya Red Cross Training Institute during the graduation ceremony of 75 Bolt rider partners certified as Community First Aid Ambassadors. The event culminated from a partnership between Bolt and the Kenya Red Cross to equip more than 500 boda boda riders with basic first aid, emergency activation and road safety skills within the first year of the programme.
Equipping people who are frequently present on the roads and within communities with basic first aid knowledge can strengthen preparedness while professional emergency support is activated.
“Safety is not only about what happens during a ride; it is also about how we equip the people within our ecosystem to contribute to safer communities," Arthur Gacharia, Senior Operations Manager, Rides, Bolt, said.
"Through this partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, we are giving riders practical skills that can help them respond appropriately when faced with an emergency and, importantly, know when and how to activate professional assistance. We are starting with 75 riders, but our ambition is to train more than 500 within the first year. Today, we are proud to recognise our first Community First Aid Ambassadors, riders who have chosen to invest their time in skills that could help them, their passengers and the communities around them when it matters most.”
“I would like to extend my appreciation to Bolt and the Kenya Red Cross for organising this training. The session was beneficial, it has equipped us with the knowledge to respond effectively when faced with emergencies, with a clear understanding of how to act safely, what falls within our training, and when to call for professional help. I am proud and honoured to be part of the first group of ambassadors," Patrick Sakwa, one of the newly certified Community First Aid Ambassadors.
"I would like to thank Bolt for initiating this partnership. At the Red Cross, our role is to support national and county governments in responding to disasters and emergencies, and initiatives like this are exactly how we advance that mission. Last year alone, we recorded 1,273 rider fatalities, 2,768 serious injuries, and 720 minor injuries; the knowledge shared today with these riders will make a meaningful difference in bringing those numbers down and contributing to the government's goal of Universal Healthcare. Thank you, Bolt, for making our work easier; you are a partner we truly value, and we look forward to continuing this work together," Monica Orero, Director, Training and Capacity Building, Kenya Red Cross Training Institute (KRCTI), said.
From left to right, Brenda Mumbi, Driver Community Specialist, Bolt, Arthur Gacharia, Senior Operations Manager, Rides and Monica Orero, Director, Training and Capacity Building, Kenya Red Cross Training Institute (KRCTI) during the graduation ceremony of 75 Bolt rider partners certified as Community First Aid Ambassadors.
Importantly, the programme is not intended to turn riders into medical professionals or replace professional emergency responders. Instead, it equips them with the knowledge to assess situations, provide appropriate basic assistance within the limits of their training and activate professional emergency support when required.
The first 75 riders mark the starting point of the wider Bolt-Kenya Red Cross programme. The pilot will provide both organisations with an opportunity to gather feedback from participants, assess the programme’s impact and use the learnings to inform the training of more riders, with more than 500 targeted within the first year.
The partnership reflects a broader recognition that improving road safety and emergency preparedness requires collaboration across the transport network, with individuals, businesses, humanitarian organisations, government and communities each playing a role.
As the first cohort of Community First Aid Ambassadors, the riders will carry their new identity as a visible reminder of the knowledge and responsibility they have undertaken.
As the programme grows, Bolt and Kenya Red Cross aim to put these practical skills in the hands of more riders and, ultimately, more communities.
A group photo of the boda boda riders who took part in the basic first aid, emergency activation and road safety skills training at the Kenya Red Cross Training Institute (KRCTI). The training, organised by Bolt in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, aims to equip more than 500 boda boda riders within the first year of the programme.
