With the current adoption of electric scooters as an eco-friendly means of transport around Nairobi. It is undeniable that they could play a major role in shaping Kenya’s future in urban mobility.
With Nairobi and Mombasa cities grappling with traffic snarl-ups, especially during peak hours when commuters are travelling to and from work, there has been an increase in freight charges.
Electric scooters as a practical solution
This issue has now been addressed by the adoption of scooters in Kenya. These two-wheeled eco-friendly vessels can manoeuvre through heavy traffic jams at a faster rate and in a much more affordable way.
With a projected increase in population and industrialisation, traffic jams are also expected to increase.
People are now turning to scooters as their means of movement. This is informed by a study conducted in 2023, which showed that the scooter growth rate is 8 per cent per annum from the period 2023 to 2030, indicating that electric scooters are on the rise.
Governments push for electromobility
The Kenyan government aims for the country to transition to full e-mobility by 2050. They want that by this time there are zero tailpipe emissions from public transport, which currently contribute 72 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
This puts eco-friendly vessels such as electric scooters in an advantageous position since they use renewable energy and are aligned with Kenya’s long-term goals.
Policy reforms supporting adoption
This has seen the government, through the recent National E-Mobility Policy, scrap barriers to entry into the e-mobility market and introduce measures that will make e-mobility vessels such as scooters more affordable and enhance their adoption in the Kenyan market.
The government has moved to scrap VAT, excise duty, and import duty, making it easier to import e-scooters.
The Principal Secretary of Trade, Juma Mukhwana, has acknowledged this rise, saying that demand for e-mobility outpaces supply.
He has proposed financing mechanisms to help manufacturers set up assembly points in the country, something that will lead to massive production of e-scooters, making them a means of transport that cannot be ignored.
Infrastructural developments and charging access
The government has also passed a policy requiring new buildings constructed henceforth to dedicate 8 per cent of parking space for e-scooters and charging points for e-mobility vessels.
This has instilled confidence among many Kenyans since one of the major hurdles of owning an e-scooter is the charging infrastructure. With new buildings fitted with power input ports, this will boost electric scooter adoption in Nairobi as a mode of transport.
Kenyans’ vision as emobility hub
Kenya’s vision, as per the recently rolled-out National E-Mobility Policy, is to become the leading e-mobility hub in the region. This ambition favours the adoption of e-scooters since they are one of the major ways of driving the country toward this vision.
Rising fuel costs
Kenyans are already realising the need for electric scooters, especially at a time when global tensions, such as the Iran-US conflict entering its second month, have contributed to fuel shortages.
This has led to price hikes, with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority increasing petrol prices by 40 per cent and diesel by 28 per cent.
With an insignificant increase in the cost of electricity, this has made Kenyans consider electric scooters, since they are not affected by such challenges.
The Kenyan government is also earmarking a reduction in expenditure on petroleum, which is currently capped at close to Ksh600 billion, representing 16 per cent of the national budget. This is seen as a move toward e-mobility, and there is nothing better to drive this target than electric scooters.
Economic pressure and energy transition
Every discussion currently being held by both the government and citizens revolves around green energy and e-mobility.
This places electric scooters as the future of transport in Nairobi City. It is no longer just an idea, as Kenyans are now being pushed to develop ways of adapting to this mode of transport.
