Kenya Power, the nation’s power utility company, has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest approximately KShs.258 million over the next three years to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Kenya.
This initiative encompasses the establishment of charging stations across various locations nationwide and the procurement of electric vehicles and motorbikes to support company operations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Kenya Power disclosed the inauguration of an EV charging station at Stima Plaza, costing KShs.6.5 million, as part of its broader investments in e-mobility. This station features two chargers: a 50kW DC charger capable of charging in one hour and a 22kW AC charger with a two-hour charging time.
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This marks Kenya Power’s second EV charging station, complementing the one at the Ruaraka Depot, which serves the company’s transport section.
Furthermore, Kenya Power plans to install nine additional charging stations by July 2024 at various company offices nationwide, including Donholm, Nakuru, Mombasa, Mtito Andei, Kisumu, Eldoret, Roysambu, Electricity House Nairobi, and Ragati.
Joseph Siror, Kenya Power’s Managing Director and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, emphasizing the company’s commitment to spearheading discussions on E-mobility. He announced an annual budget of KShs.20 million to set up EV charging stations at all company offices nationwide, with plans to increase installations to 10 additional facilities annually in 2025 and 2026.
In addition to the charging infrastructure, Kenya Power has introduced two electric heavy-duty vehicles for operational use, acquired at a cost of KShs.18 million. The company aims to expand its electric vehicle fleet by procuring additional non-electric vehicles (both heavy and light-duty) and 25 electric motorcycles by December 2024.
Kenya Power’s journey into E-mobility began with a pilot program involving 13 electric motorcycles in collaboration with UNEP in 2021, followed by the trial use of electric-powered forklifts and pallet stackers between 2016 and 2018.
The implementation of the E-mobility tariff approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, as well as the annual E-mobility Conference initiated by Kenya Power, underscores the company’s commitment to fostering the growth of electric vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles in Kenya.
