Nationwide e-bike program introduced by Kenya's government

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Kenyan government has announced plans to introduce electric motorbikes across the country. President William Ruto revealed the initiative in collaboration with African startup Spiro, just ahead of the Africa Climate Summit that he will be hosting in Nairobi next week. Ruto highlighted that there are approximately two million motorbikes on Kenyan roads, with most of them being "boda bodas" or two-wheeled taxis commonly used in Africa.

Ruto emphasized that the adoption of electric mobility is crucial to address issues such as pollution, adverse health effects, and fuel costs. He stated that Kenya aims to eventually phase out combustion engine-powered motorbikes, as their increasing use across the continent has serious implications for climate change and air quality. Although Africa contributes only a small percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions, it suffers disproportionately from the effects of climate change.

Spiro, the African startup, has already introduced nearly 10,000 electric bikes in countries like Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The company plans to establish 3,000 battery-charging and swapping stations in Kenya, in addition to the 350 stations already present across Africa. Their goal is to potentially introduce over one million electric vehicles throughout the country.

Ruto, who is leading African efforts to combat climate change, expressed his belief that Kenya has the potential to generate 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Currently, more than 90 percent of Kenya's energy comes from renewable sources such as hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, and wind power. However, the country still faces challenges, including frequent power cuts.

In recent times, fuel prices in Kenya have reached their highest levels in over a decade, exacerbating the economic hardships faced by the population. Additionally, the number of registered electric vehicles in the country remains low, accounting for less than one percent of the total 4.4 million registered vehicles.

FutureCar Staff