Food Delivery Companies in Nairobi: Glovo, Uber Eats and Bolt Food

Updated 18 October 2026

Nairobi’s food delivery market has shrunk to three big apps: Glovo, Uber Eats and Bolt Food. Others, most recently Jumia Food at the end of 2023, have shut down. The apps now deliver groceries, pharmacy items and household goods as well as restaurant meals, and a takeover deal announced in July 2026 could put two of the three under one owner. This guide covers who operates in Nairobi today, what each offers, how the market got here and what to look at as a customer, restaurant or rider. It draws on company statements, KBC and Business Daily reporting, and coverage of the Uber and Delivery Hero deal.

The main food delivery apps in Nairobi

Glovo

Glovo, the Spanish company that entered Kenya in 2019, is widely described as the market leader in online food and grocery delivery. In May 2026 it opened a new regional headquarters in Nairobi and announced plans to invest KSh 10 billion in Kenya by 2030. At that launch, Glovo Kenya managing director Caroline Mutuku said the firm operates in 12 towns, employs over 600 people, supports more than 6,000 merchants and has about 2,200 active riders daily. The company said it contributed KSh 9 billion to the local economy in 2025 and has generated at least KSh 20 billion for local businesses since 2019, most of it for small and medium-sized firms.

Besides restaurant meals, Glovo delivers groceries and items from other shops, and Mutuku said the new investment will fund technology, operations and expansion to more Kenyan towns.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats runs alongside the Uber ride app. In September 2023 it expanded to Eldoret and Naivasha, bringing its Kenyan cities to five: Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Naivasha. Uber Eats Kenya has pushed beyond restaurants into convenience stores, pharmacy and wellness, and everyday essentials, which Business Daily described as a strategic move into commodities as diners cut back on eating out.

Bolt Food

Bolt Food is the food arm of Bolt, the ride-hailing company. It is counted with Glovo and Uber Eats as one of Kenya’s three main food delivery platforms. In June 2026 the fact-checking group Africa Check found that a notice claiming Bolt would leave Kenya on 8 June was false. If you already use Bolt for rides, the food option sits in the same app; for its ride subscription, see our guide to Bolt Plus in Kenya.

The Uber and Delivery Hero deal

In July 2026 Uber agreed to buy Delivery Hero, the German company that owns about 94% of Glovo, for 41.50 euros a share in cash, about 13 billion euros (USD 14.8 billion). The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Kenya is among the markets Uber would take over, so Glovo and Uber Eats would end up with the same parent. Until the deal closes, the two operate as separate, competing businesses.

Kenya’s Competition Authority is expected to review the deal. It has stepped into the sector before: in 2024 it directed Glovo and Uber Eats to set up local offices to handle consumer complaints. Restaurants, riders and customers will be watching how any approval affects commissions, delivery fees and rider pay.

Who has left the market

Food delivery in Kenya has a long list of casualties. Jumia shut its food delivery business at the end of December 2023 in all seven countries where it operated. Kune Foods, a Nairobi start-up that cooked and delivered its own meals at about USD 3 each, closed in June 2022 despite selling more than 55,000 meals that year. Sendy, a delivery and fulfilment start-up that raised USD 20 million in 2020, also wound up.

Analysts quoted by Business Daily point to thin margins, high fuel costs and price-sensitive customers. The survivors run marketplace models, connecting many restaurants with many buyers rather than cooking the food themselves, which spreads the cost of riders and technology.

Tips for customers

• Compare the full bill. The menu price, delivery fee and any service or small-order fee differ by app and distance. Check the total at checkout on two apps before you order.
• Watch menu mark-ups. Some restaurants charge more on apps than at the counter to cover commission.
• Use promotions and subscriptions carefully. They pay off only if you order often.
• Report problems in the app first, then escalate to the company’s local office if a refund is refused.

Tips for restaurants and riders

Listing on an app gives a restaurant reach without its own riders, but commission eats into margins, so price app menus with it in mind. If you are planning a takeaway business, our chips and fast food profit calculator helps you test your numbers first. Riders work as independent couriers, usually with their own motorbike or bicycle, and are paid per delivery; read the platform’s terms on fees, insurance and deactivation before signing up. For salaried delivery and logistics roles, check Job in Kenya.

Frequently asked questions

Which food delivery apps work in Nairobi?

The main ones are Glovo, Uber Eats and Bolt Food.

Is Jumia Food still operating in Kenya?

No. Jumia closed its food delivery business at the end of December 2023.

Which is the biggest food delivery company in Kenya?

Glovo is widely described as the market leader, with more than 6,000 merchants and about 2,200 daily active riders in 12 towns.

Is Uber buying Glovo?

Uber agreed in July 2026 to buy Delivery Hero, which owns about 94% of Glovo. The deal needs approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2027.

Which Kenyan towns does Uber Eats serve?

Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Naivasha.