Bolt releases statement after Ciku Muiruri's daughter kidnapping

13 June 2023

• Ciku Muiruri's daughter was kidnapped by a cab driver alongside her friend.

• The two were found in Witeithie, Kiambu County.

Bolt has reacted to the alleged kidnapping of Ciku Muiruri's daughter and her friend by a bolt driver.

The company has also given it's user tip son how to keep them safe.

In a statement shared via their socials, Bolt advised

"We strongly discourage the use of vehicles that do not match the details on the platform, as this was one of the issues that led to this unfortunate incident.

To address this, we show riders the driver and car verification details when they request a ride.

Riders are encouraged to confirm that the driver and car registration details during their pickup match those on the app."

Further adding

"We immediately block drivers that exhibit such behavior.

We also introduced the driver selfie check feature on the platform to enhance safety and prevent driver impersonation and account sharing.

Our driver and rider apps also have an SOS emergency button that can be used to alert, and seek for security and/or first-response medical assistance at any time during an active trip."

Erica and her friend Shanice Agose were on Sunday evening rescued in Thika, eight days after they were kidnapped in Westlands, Nairobi.

The two, who were kidnapped at Rhapta road in Westlands by a taxi driver were found 'visibly weak and shaken' in a one-room house in Mang'u, Gatundu North Constituency, police said.

DCI detectives from Thika West stormed the house, rescued the women and arrested two suspects Timothy Kiragu Ng'ang'a (34) and Samuel Kipkurui (33) at Ngoigwa area in Thika.

The kidnappers had demanded a Ksh.250,000 ransom from both parents. The girls are believed to have been fed mandazi and water.

Assorted crude weapons and fake motor-vehicle number plates were recovered from the suspects.

According to police, Erica, 26, and Shanice, 27, had attended a house party in Westlands, after which they requested a ride to Kilimani, via the Bolt taxi app.

"But when the ride arrived along Rhapta road in Westlands and they got in, the driver threatened them using a hammer before speeding off towards Thika," read a Monday report by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.