Kenya has made significant strides in its transition to green mobility, with the number of registered electric vehicles (EVs) doubling in 2024 to 5,294, up from 2,694 the previous year. According to new data from the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya (EMAK), motorcycles continue to dominate the EV segment, accounting for 4,862 units, followed by 185 three-wheelers (tuk-tuks), 123 electric cars, 87 forklifts, and 32 electric buses.
Cumulatively, the country now has 8,097 electric motorcycles, 324 three-wheelers, 318 electric cars, 53 e-buses, and 227 forklifts on its roads. Despite this growth, EVs still represent a modest 0.2 percent of Kenya’s total vehicle registrations.
EMAK President Hezbon Mose shared these figures during the 2024 E-Mobility Conference and Expo, jointly organized by Kenya Power, the German development agency GIZ, and EMAK. He projected a promising future for e-mobility in Kenya, anticipating over 60,000 two-wheeler EVs and 2,000 electric buses by 2030. Sales of EV passenger vehicles are forecast to exceed 7,600 annually by 2030, with over 30,000 units on Kenyan roads if supportive incentives continue.
The growth in e-mobility has been fueled by government initiatives such as the introduction of an e-mobility electricity tariff and tax incentives aimed at reducing the total cost of EV ownership. However, challenges remain, particularly the high upfront costs of EVs driven by expensive battery components and the limited availability of public charging infrastructure, which remains largely concentrated in Nairobi.
To address this, Kenya Power has announced plans to install 45 new EV chargers across key urban centers including Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Mombasa, Nyeri, Nakuru, and Taita-Taveta. The utility is also exploring the establishment of local battery assembly plants, a move that could significantly reduce EV prices and enhance uptake.
As infrastructure expands and costs come down, Kenya’s EV market appears poised for accelerated growth, placing the country on a greener and more sustainable transport path.
