•The DCI revealed that assorted crude weapons and fake motor-vehicle number plates were recovered from the suspects.
•They were, however, rescued over the weekend in an operation conducted by a joint team of sleuths drawn from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau.
Image: COURTESY
Estonian e-taxi company Bolt has condemned the recent kidnapping ordeal of two Kenyan women.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bolt said that they proactively collaborated with the authorities to provide pertinent information regarding this case that supported the conclusion of this investigation.
“We are aware of the recent safety incident and deeply appreciate the local authorities' efforts to ensure that the two young girls were found and safely reunited with their families,” Bolt said.
However, Bolt has urged its users not to use vehicles that do not match the details on the platform, as this was one of the issues that led to this unfortunate incident.
The DCI revealed that assorted crude weapons and fake motor-vehicle number plates were recovered from the suspects.
To address the above, Bolt highlights that passengers should be keen on the car registration details before boarding.
“Riders are encouraged to confirm that the driver and car registration details during their pickup match those on the app,” the statement reads further.
For drivers who do not show their car verification details, Bolt reveals that they get blocked.
To enhance safety, Bolt says it introduced the driver selfie check feature on the platform which prevents driver impersonation and account sharing.
Adding on that, Bolt says that their drivers and rider apps also have an SOS emergency button that can be used to alert seek security and first-response medical assistance at any time during an active trip.
The e-taxi company has urged users to continue reporting incidents to its Customer Support team.
“The safety of our drivers and riders remains our highest priority. This is why we strongly encourage all riders and drivers to report any incidents to our Customer Support team through our in-app support feature accessible from the Bolt application menu or via [email protected],” Bolt said.
Erica Gachoka, daughter of Media personality Ciku Muiruri, and her friend Shanice Agose went missing on June 4 after attending a house party in Nairobi’s Westlands area.
After the party, the two requested a ride to Kilimani.
But when the ride arrived along Rhapta road in Westlands and they got in, the driver allegedly threatened them using a hammer before speeding off towards Thika.
They were, however, rescued over the weekend in an operation conducted by a joint team of sleuths drawn from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau.