Bolt has stated in response to the reported kidnapping of Ciku Muiruri's daughter and a friend by a bolt driver.

 The company has also given its users advice on how to be secure.

Bolt suggested in a statement released on social media.

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

To remedy this, when riders request a ride, we provide them with the driver and car verification details.

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


In addition,

"Any driver who exhibits such behavior is immediately blocked."

We also added the driver selfie check tool on the platform to improve safety and prevent driver impersonation and account sharing.

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

The two were kidnapped by a taxi driver on Rhapta Road in Westlands and found 'visibly weak and scared' in a one-room shack in Mang'u, Gatundu North Constituency, police said.

DCI Thika West detectives rushed to the residence, rescued the women, and arrested two suspects, Timothy Kiragu Ng'ang'a (34) and Samuel Kipkurui (33), in Thika's Ngoigwa district.

The kidnappers had wanted a ransom of Ksh.250,000 from both parents. The girls were allegedly served mandazi and water.

The suspects were found with various crude weapons and forged car license plates.

Erica, 26, and Shanice, 27, were arrested after attending a house party in Westlands and requesting a trip to Kilimani via the Bolt cab app.

"However, when the ride arrived along Rhapta road in Westlands and they got in, the driver threatened them with a hammer before speeding off towards Thika," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations reported on Monday.