• Kenya must speed up the deployment of charging stations, making them as common as petrol stations along highways and in cities.
• Strategically located charging stations will enable seamless travel between urban and rural locations, allowing commuters and transportation operators to confidently convert to electric vehicles.
Image: COURTESY
Kenya is on the brink of a transformative journey in the energy and transportation sectors.
While the country has made tremendous progress in improving access to electricity, one emerging growth potential is the largely untapped, electrification of public transportation.
With cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru facing fast urbanization and increased vehicles congestion, a shift to electric public transportation will be a game changer.
This change promises not only environmental benefits, but also comes with economic and social gains that will no doubt propel Kenya into a more sustainable and affluent nation.
Kenya's major cities are grappling with challenges related to traditional transportation systems, including air pollution, noise, and high fuel costs.
The transport sector is a major consumer of fossil fuels, contributing significantly to carbon emissions and environmental deterioration.
As the country works to meet its climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), electrification of public transportation stands out as an important area for intervention.
The electrification of public transport including buses, matatus, and taxis could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and minimise long-term operating costs.
Importantly, Electric Vehicles (EVs) provide a cleaner, quieter, and more energy-efficient alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
This shift would not only accord with Kenya's green strategy, but would also pave the way for a modern, forward-thinking transportation network that can fulfill the needs of the country's rising urban population.
The availability of charging infrastructure is critical to the effective adoption of electric public transportation.
The worry of running out of charge, sometimes known as range anxiety, is a significant barrier to the adoption of EVs.
To remedy this, Kenya must speed up the deployment of charging stations, making them as common as petrol stations along highways and in cities.
Strategically located charging stations will enable seamless travel between urban and rural locations, allowing commuters and transportation operators to confidently convert to electric vehicles.
Imagine what a network of charging stations from Nairobi to Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru, will offer, allowing you to travel from the city to the village without worrying about running out of charge.
This is not a pipe dream, but an attainable reality with the correct investment and legislative backing.
Kenya already has a rising number of EV players, both startups and established enterprises, who are installing charging stations in strategic areas.
However, the current rate of development is insufficient to fulfill the expected demand.
A more concerted effort is required to attract new companies to enter the market, resulting in a competitive environment that fosters innovation, reduces costs, and improves service delivery.
Public-private partnerships, infrastructure
development incentives, and streamlined regulatory frameworks that facilitate rapid charging network growth could help to boost this effort.
As the adoption to electric vehicles picks up, so will the demand for electricity.
The increase in electricity demand will require the development of electricity-generating capacity, in turn leading to additional investments and job creation in the energy sector.
KenGen, as a key participant in Kenya's energy landscape, is well-positioned to facilitate this shift by increasing renewable energy generation from sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar.
By generating the additional electricity required for EVs from clean sources, Kenya can enhance the environmental benefits of electrifying public transportation.
This holistic approach, which includes greening the entire value chain from creation to consumption, would propel Kenya to the forefront of African sustainable development.
alleviating the financial pressure on commuters who rely on public transportation.
To fully realize the promise of electric public transport, Kenya needs a collaborative effort from the government, industry, and public.
This includes implementing legislation, tax breaks, subsidies, public awareness campaigns, investment in Research and Development, and partnering with local and international organizations in cutting-edge technologies and best practices.
The electrification of public transport presents a unique opportunity for Kenya to address multiple challenges simultaneously.
Kenya can pave the way for Africa's shift to electric transportation by expediting the installation of charging infrastructure, increasing electricity supply, and promoting a conducive governmental environment.
This transition represents not only the future of transportation, but also the path to a cleaner, wealthier, and sustainable Kenya.
The writer is the Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen).
md&[email protected] Twitter: @kenGenMDandCEO