Kenya E-Mobility

Kenya Power Issues an RFEOI for Establishing an E-Mobility Network Infrastructure System (ENIS)
Kenya’s transport sector is one of the main contributors of greenhouse gas emissions due to the sector’s predominant use of fossil fuel. To achieve the government’s commitment to climate mitigation efforts, the country has set a goal of reducing emissions in the transport sector by 3.46 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030. The government has embarked on various initiatives to drive the adoption of e-mobility. These include the development of electric vehicle (EV) standards; reduction of 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 uptake and challenges in e-mobility adoption. In addition, e-mobility is prioritized under the government’s National Climate Change Action Plan and Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions 2020.

The government is committed to contributing actively to the momentum around e-mobility. This is in line with its commitment at COP26 to transitioning to zero-emission vehicles as well as its own goal of having 5% of all newly registered vehicles being EVs by 2025. Although these goals remain far off, they do signal political goodwill and interest in growing e-mobility adoption in Kenya. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority, a total of 671 EVs are registered in Kenya. Motorcycles take up almost half the share at 324, three-wheelers stand at 105, and motor vehicles at 128. The remaining are classified as “other” vehicle categories. 

Although the sector is still in its infancy, a vibrant e-mobility startup scene is developing. This includes over 50 startups entering the space in the last few years and investments of $26m of new funding in 2021. Recent developments include the presence of at least six e-bike assemblers, the emergence of several EV delivery and ride-hailing services, several firms involved in conversion to fossil fuel cars into electric vehicles, and infrastructure developers and local associations.  

One of the biggest hindrances for the development the EV industry remains the lack of supporting infrastructure. To address this gap, Kenya Power, the national electric utility company has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for technology partners to develop and implement a proof of concept for the utility’s E-mobility Network Infrastructure System (ENIS). The proposed ENIS will include charging infrastructure (home, business, and public), a billing and payment system and a service management system. The RFEOI closes on August 30, 2022, and details are available at https://www.kplc.co.ke.

For more information please contact: Mary Masyuko, Senior Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy
Nairobi, Kenya, Email: Mary.Masyuko@trade.gov