Thousands of delivery riders working through Glovo's platform could soon receive faster emergency assistance following a new partnership between technology firm AURA and Glovo Kenya aimed at improving rider safety on Kenyan roads.
The deal will see AURA provide emergency response services to Glovo's network of independent riders, giving them access to medical, security, and roadside assistance support through a digitised platform designed to track incidents in real time.
Under the arrangement, rider emergencies will be logged, timestamped, and monitored from the moment an alert is raised until the incident is resolved. The system is expected to replace manual reporting processes that often make it difficult to track emergency responses and accountability.
According to the two companies, Glovo's operations team will be able to monitor incidents as they unfold, including dispatch, arrival, and resolution of emergency services.
The partnership comes amid growing concerns over the safety of delivery riders in major urban centres, particularly Nairobi, where road accidents, insecurity, and vehicle breakdowns continue to pose risks to gig economy workers.
"Especially in complex urban environments like Nairobi, emergency response systems cannot be left to fragmented or ineffective systems," said Victor Odera, AURA's Kenya Country Manager.
"AURA's partnership with Glovo brings full transparency to emergency response for the first time — ensuring every incident is visible, every response is trackable, and every rider has access to rapid, verified support when they need it most."
Glovo Kenya said the initiative is intended to strengthen protections for riders who rely on the platform for income.
"Through our partnership with AURA, we are empowering the independent riders who use our platform with robust safety and health protections," said Liz Wambua, Operations Manager at Glovo Kenya.
"Knowing that they are securely covered against unexpected road risks, from breakdowns to emergency response, gives them the peace of mind to focus on what they do best. This reflects our deep commitment to urban safety and the well-being of every rider connected to Glovo."
AURA, which was founded in Johannesburg in 2017, operates in Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company says it has built a network of more than 2,000 vetted responders across Kenya, offering emergency medical, security, and roadside assistance services through mobile and connected technologies.
The partnership highlights a growing trend among digital platforms to invest in rider welfare and safety infrastructure as Kenya's on-demand delivery sector continues to expand.
