Deputy President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance has outlined an ambitious plan to promote the use of electric vehicles in the country.
According to the Kenya Kwanza Bottom Up economic Transformation Agenda 2022 - 2027, Ruto has pledged to promote e-mobility in the country by creating infrastructure that will enable the use of electric vehicles in the country.
Ruto - in the document - says he will erect charging points in all urban centers and along all major highways in the country. Charging points have been a major hurdle to the electric vehicles market in the country.
“We will roll out electric vehicle charging infrastructure in all urban centers and along major highways,” reads the document in part.
Kenya Kwanza has also promised to introduce incentives in the sector as a way of wooing investors to pump more money in the electric vehicles industry. This, according to the manifesto, will be arrived at by introducing tax and financial incentives for public service vehicles and commercial transporters using electric vehicles.
Ruto further pledged to enhance electric vehicles and motorcycles assembly in Kenya through the hustler’s fund that is entrenched in his manifesto. According to Ruto, the hustler’s fund will provide financial support for Kenyans willing to venture into the industry.
"We will provide financial and tax incentives for public service vehicles and commercial transporters to convert to electric vehicles."
Currently, Kenya is making strides towards fully achieving 100% clean energy utilization in line with Vision 2030. Statistics from the the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) show that there are over 350 electric vehicles on Kenyan roads.
World's giant electric bus manufacturer BasiGo in March this year partnered with local commuter service provider, Citi Hoppa, to roll-out the first fleet of electric public service vehicles in the country.
The government envisages a situation where the country will embrace EVs as a way to reduce the current dominance on fossil fuels.
EVs have been touted as the solution to the damaging carbon emissions from the diesel and petroleum powered vehicle engines.
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), e-mobility has not only reduced the cost of transport but also reduces the effect of carbon emissions on the environment.
Major automobile companies have adapted into the apparent future in the industry which has led to a surge in the number of vehicles manufactured. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicles are projected to have an increase of between 10.4% and 19%.
This development is in line with the Strategic Development Goal number seven on clean energy.
Ruto's manifesto has also committed to establish liquified natural gas (LNG) storage facilities in a bid to steer Kenya towards realizing the green energy promise.
