Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has announced plans by the government to shift–fully to electric vehicles, a landmark move geared towards modernising national transport.
While launching the E-Mobility Policy, CS Chirchir said the government has prioritised the acquisition of electric vehicles throughout its agencies, adding that budgetary allocation had been done already.
Describing the E-Mobility Policy as a game-changer, he said that the country would soon end age-long reliance on expensive and unclean fuel imports.
“The new policy is not a pilot, but a full plan to enhance the E-Mobility ecosystem. The policy establishes an institutional framework and improves standards and quality in the market,” he said, adding: “The policy is expected to chaperon Kenya’s shift to a sustainable, low-
carbon transport system.”
He said that the E-Mobility Policy is part of the broad plan by President Ruto’s administration to move the country to the first world through the modernisation of roads and other key infrastructure necessary for national development.
“The Republic of Kenya is committed to advancing sustainable mobility solutions that contribute to national development goals, improved quality of life and mitigation of the impact of climate change,” Chirchir said.
The policy sets out a clear framework for promoting the adoption of E-mobility technologies, putting in place the necessary infrastructure in addition to fostering innovation and investment in the sector.
Among other things, the E-Mobility Policy is geared towards promoting local manufacture and assembly of Electric Vehicles (EVs), developing and enhancing e-Mobility infrastructural capacity to accelerate the adoption of EVs, and enhancing local technical capacity and skills across the entire e-Mobility value chain.
According to Chirchir, the policy also seeks to promote and accelerate the adoption of Electric Vehicles in the country as a way of combating climate change.
He further said the government is developing new ways of funding and maintaining roads since the adoption of Electric Vehicles, reliance on fuel levy will reduce significantly.
“This policy will develop new ways of funding and maintaining our roads as transport becomes modernised. We are also developing an E-mobility bill in conjunction with the legislature,” he stated.
