Kenya reaffirms commitment to accelerate EV transition at Africa Mobility Show

Speaking at the Africa EV Mobility Show Kenya 2025 in Nairobi, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira outlined the policy priorities and industrial ambitions guiding the shift.

Wachira, represented by State Department of Energy Assistant Director Erick Apunda, said Kenya is positioning itself to lead the East African Community and the wider continent in EV adoption. He reiterated that the government remains on track to deploy 10,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030, forming the backbone of a national EV ecosystem.

He added that the Kenya Electric Mobility Policy, currently before Parliament, proposes a range of tax reforms aimed at making EVs more affordable for consumers.

Independent expert Eng. Michael Muchiri noted that electric vehicles remain two to three times more expensive than fossil-fuel models, largely due to high taxation. He stressed that addressing these cost barriers will be central to accelerating uptake.

"The Kenya Electric Mobility Policy has recommendations. One of them is on taxation. One of the ways to increase adoption of electric motor vehicles is by reducing the taxes so that a buyer is able to make the transition from a fossil to an electric vehicle without having much argument around the price... Currently, the price of an electric vehicle is two to three times more than a diesel or petrol vehicle," said Eng. Muchiri.

The expo, which is East Africa’s flagship showcase for electric mobility and sustainable transport innovation, brought together more than 100 global and regional industry players at The Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi. It was organised by MIE Events DMCC in collaboration with Global Exhibitions Inc and supported by the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the State Department for Transport.

Experts at the forum emphasised that local assembly of EVs using completely knocked-down (CKD) kits offers the most practical pathway to reducing costs and creating jobs. The government is encouraging dealers to begin with assembly while gradually transitioning to local component manufacturing or sourcing from Kenyan firms.

They also highlighted incentives from the National Treasury, including a 50% tax reduction for companies that manufacture at least 30% of their EV units locally. This, they said, aligns with Kenya’s wider strategy to grow domestic industrial capacity, reduce import dependence and unlock new employment opportunities for young people.

With more than 90% of its electricity generated from renewable sources, a growing manufacturing base and incentives designed to steer investment toward electrification, Kenya is positioning itself as a continental leader in the EV transition.