Kenya Reclassifies Uber, Bolt and Glovo as Licensed Couriers, Imposes Steep Fees

Kenya’s Communications Authority now requires Uber, Bolt, Glovo and Little to hold a 10-year courier licence, marking the first time digital delivery platforms are treated as part of the country’s courier industry. Starting July 29, application fees jump to KES 5,000, with an initial licence costing KES 100,000—over three times the previous rate—and an annual fee of KES 100,000 or 0.4% of turnover, plus a 0.5% Universal Service Levy. This shift recognises that these apps have grown beyond moving meals. Today’s platforms connect customers with courier networks for groceries, medicines, retail goods and parcels. Firms like Glovo and Bolt Food have expanded into grocery delivery, while Uber is eyeing parcel services under a National Courier Operator licence. For large multinationals, the new fees are manageable. Smaller startups and local operators, however, face a tougher financial burden. For lean tier-two city services, compliance costs could threaten their viability. By clarifying that riders operate as agents under licensed providers and opening licence applications to associations and SACCOs, Kenya is building a framework for consumer protection, data reporting and service standards across digital logistics.

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