Kenya initiates efforts to promote electric mobility

The dominant use of fossil fuel in the Kenyan transport sector is responsible for the significant greenhouse gas emissions in the country. This has led to the government committing to reduce emissions in the transport sector by 3.46 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030. As a result, the government prioritized e-mobility adoption as a part of its National Climate Change Action Plan and Kenya's Nationally Determined Contributions 2020. In addition, the Kenyan government implemented complementary actions such as the development of electric vehicles (EV) standards, the reduction of the excise tax on EVs from 20% to 10%, and partnering with development partners including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), to roll out pilot programs to evaluate challenges in e-mobility adoption.

In the electric mobility market, French-Kenyan start-up Stima, which specializes in battery swapping technology, recently signed an agreement with two companies - Mogo and Bolt, for the deployment of electric motorcycle solutions in the city of Nairobi. Mogo - a financial company with a motorcycle leasing system will allow Kenyan drivers acquire their own motorcycles by paying weekly instalments. Meanwhile, Bolt, will operate an electronic delivery platform which enables payment for delivery of goods and services.

Also, eWaka, owner of electric bikes known as 'Shujaa', used by delivery companies and healthcare providers as well as hotels and schools, has received a loan of 500,000 Swiss francs from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation to roll out its 'Shujaa' electric bicycles in several African countries.

As envisaged, these efforts by the government and private sector will contribute to the reduction carbon footprint in Kenya's transport sector.