Kenya Power has unveiled plans to install 45 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across six counties within the next 12 months, a move aimed at bolstering the country’s transition to sustainable transport.
The initiative, announced on Monday by the nation’s main energy provider, targets Nairobi, Nyeri, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa and Taita Taveta, with six stations planned for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The state-owned utility is intensifying efforts to address the lack of charging infrastructure, a major barrier to EV adoption in the country, where registrations have surged from 2,694 in 2023 to 9,047 by May 2025.
“Kenya Power is committed to driving the shift to electric mobility as part of our broader goal to cut carbon emissions,” said Joseph Siror, the company’s managing director and CEO, speaking at the 3rd Annual E-Mobility Conference and Expo in Nairobi. “This network will provide the backbone for motorists and spur wider EV uptake.”
According to Siror, KPLC is collaborating with private sector partners, including EV manufacturers and charging technology firms, to deploy the stations at high-traffic locations, such as shopping centres and major highways.
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This project, which will see a mix of fast chargers, capable of powering a vehicle in under an hour, and standard chargers, catering to both commercial fleets and private EV owners, being installed, builds on a pilot phase that saw three charging stations installed in Nairobi, where over $300,000 was spent.
Kenya Power’s efforts could position Kenya as a regional leader in green transport, provided it navigates economic constraints and scales infrastructure effectively.
Joy Brenda Masinde, the utility’s board chairperson, emphasised the need for continued government backing. “We’re advocating for more tax exemptions and subsidies to make EVs and charging infrastructure accessible to a broader population,” she said.
The transport sector, which contributes about 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is a focal point for Kenya’s pledge to reduce emissions by 32% by 2030 under its climate commitments.
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