Nairobi: Kenya is undergoing a significant and vital transition to sustainable transportation systems that is being propelled by various essential factors like environmental necessity, energy efficiency needs, and the broader economic rebalancing of the nation. In order to completely take advantage of this transition, it is essential that Kenya not only embraces electric vehicles (EVs) for its transportation needs but also positions itself strategically to become a central hub for local assembly and production of these new vehicles.
According to Kenya News Agency, Eng. Maurice Njagi Njeru of the Directorate of Engineering and Construction, in the State Department for Industry, emphasized that this shift presents a great opportunity to build strong value chains, generate employment openings, and enhance industrial competitiveness in the region. Eng. Njeru, speaking at the two-day 3rd Annual E-mobility Stakeholders Conference and Expo at KICC, explained that the steps towards the strategic opportunity in E-mobility included industrial growth, renewable advantage, and domestic and regional markets.
He further noted that the government of Kenya, through the State Department for Industry, is committed to facilitating this shift by providing an enabling environment for investment in e-mobility manufacturing. Significant policy decisions have been made with the aim of integrating electric vehicles into the national automotive industry and industrial development plan.
Joseph Wambugu of Economy Securities highlighted that carbon finance funding is an incentive for sustainable projects like energy and forestry. Pius Wathome from Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) detailed components of the e-mobility Kenya project, including policy, capacity building, pilot support, and BRT line 3 support.
Chair of the EV Subsector of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Hans Vantoor, mentioned plans to facilitate manufacturing facilities. Alex Munene, an advanced mobility founder, stressed the importance of capacity building, which involves business skills, policy know-how, consumer education, and technical training.
Experts, however, identified regulatory gaps, insufficient charging infrastructure, and a lack of specialized technical expertise as barriers to the growth of the e-mobility industry. The expo was organized by Kenya Power in collaboration with GIZ Kenya and the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya (EMAK).