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.
Eng. Maurice Njagi Njeru of the Directorate of Engineering and Construction, in the State Department for Industry said that a shift in that direction would be a great opportunity to not only build strong value chains but also generate employment openings and enhance the general industrial competitiveness in the region at large
Eng. Njeru, who was 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, which lowers costs through localized production; renewable advantage, which gives it a strong advantage in producing green vehicles powered by clean energy; and domestic and regional markets, which create a strong local market for electric vehicles.
“The government of Kenya, via the dedicated State Department for Industry, is fully committed to facilitating and backing this critical shift by providing an enabling environment that encourages and supports investment in the rapidly changing business of e-mobility manufacturing,” he added.
Eng. Njeru noted that the government has made significant policy decisions with the aim of introducing electric vehicles into the general national automotive industry and industrial development plan.
This strategic decision provides opportunities for electronic manufacturers who could particularly take advantage of preferential government procurement policies, especially regarding e-buses and utility vehicles used in most public services, he added.
Joseph Wambugu, who represented Economy Securities (Eco), a global carbon developer, said countries do not need carbon finance funding because it is a kind of incentive that is given to sustainable projects such as energy, land-based, and forestry.
Pius Wathome, the e-mobility advisor at the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), explained that the promotion of the e-mobility Kenya project, meant to promote electric mobility, has four components: policy, regulation, and standardization; capacity building through training and networking; support of piloting activities and result dissemination; and support of the BRT line 3.
Chair of the Electronic Vehicle (EV) Subsector of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Hans Vantoor said they would be facilitating manufacturing facilities in the space.
Alex Munene, the advanced mobility founder, noted that capacity building is fundamental and includes a set of factors stretching from business skill expertise to comprehensive policy know-how and consumer education that is all-round, including the technical training.
Experts however said that despite e-mobility presenting opportunities for growth in public transport, freight logistics, and two- and three-wheeler mobility, the growth of the e-mobility industry is limited by barriers that comprise regulatory gaps, insufficient charging infrastructure, and a lack of specialized technical expertise.
The two-day expo was organized by Kenya Power in collaboration with GIZ Kenya and the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya (EMAK).
By Wesley Omondi and Seif Ndung’u
