Bolt, one of Kenya’s largest ride-hailing platforms, is rolling out a smartphone-based dash cam app for its drivers in a bid to strengthen safety, curb fare disputes, and provide evidence during accidents. The tool—developed by U.S.-based Driver Technologies—uses drivers’ phones to record both the road and the car’s interior. Footage is stored in the cloud and costs KES 386 ($2.99) per month after a free trial, significantly lowering the barrier compared to traditional dash cams that retail at around KES 20,000 ($155).
The move comes after months of mounting pressure from driver partners who say they face a growing mix of unverified passenger complaints, payment disputes, and safety threats. Previous security upgrades like rider verification and SOS alerts offered some relief, but they failed to address the issue of accountability when incidents occur. Dash cam recordings, Bolt says, can be shared only with police, insurers, or customer support teams during verified disputes.
Privacy and Legal Grey Zones
While the app promises safety, it also raises privacy concerns under Kenya’s Data Protection Act of 2019, which requires explicit consent, data-use clarity, and disclosure on storage timelines. Bolt insists it provides compliance guidance, but ultimately, drivers—not the platform—are responsible for following the law. That means a driver could be personally liable if a rider sues over unlawful surveillance.
“Ultimately, it’s on drivers to comply with Kenya’s Data Protection Act. If a rider complains their privacy was breached, the driver, not Bolt, could be legally liable,” Nairobi-based lawyer Mike Olukoye told TechCabal.
Mixed Reactions from Drivers
The reception has been divided. Some drivers see it as an affordable layer of protection against false accusations and unsafe encounters. Others, like Waithira, a Nairobi driver, view the subscription fee as an unnecessary financial burden:
“I just cannot be paying that amount per month. It’s a little high. It would have been better if Bolt absorbed that cost,” she said.
Another driver, James, dismissed the need for the tool entirely, saying he has never experienced serious threats on the job.
The Bigger Picture
Kenya’s ride-hailing market—dominated by Bolt, Uber, and Little—remains one of the most competitive in Africa. By turning drivers’ phones into surveillance devices, Bolt is betting that evidence-driven accountability can both ease driver frustrations and boost rider trust. But unless cost-sharing and clear legal protections are introduced, the feature may struggle to gain traction at scale.
