Kenya on Wednesday launched an ambitious roadmap to boost adoption of electric mobility and hasten green transition in the country.
Joseph Njoroge, principal secretary, State Department of Transport in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, said that e-mobility is expected to boost ecological and human health.
"We are developing a national e-mobility policy to guide the mode of the new transport system once it is officially launched in the country," Njoroge said at a forum in Nairobi.
He said the country was in the process of developing cleaner sources of energy such as geothermal and solar in readiness for the introduction of electric vehicles and motorbikes.
Njoroge noted that the new mode of transport will contribute to carbon reduction, generate revenue, create jobs and reduce foreign exchange revenue expenditure demand from importing oil.
He observed that maintenance of e-mobility motorbikes will be low since riders have an electricity connection at home, adding that once a motorbike is charged, it can go for 70 kilometers before recharging.
Kenya has already enacted two pieces of legislation, the Climate Change Act of 2016 and the Energy Act of 2019 in readiness for the adoption of e-Mobility.
The electric mobility roadmap seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop a greener economy in Kenya in line with the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference that took place in Glasgow, Scotland from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12.
It further seeks to promote the use of climate-friendly technologies in the sectors of construction and building, agricultural enterprises, manufacturing and production industries.
Kenya has embarked on ongoing rapid motorization in the transport sector in regards to 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers besides developing a strategy to reduce carbon emissions that result from such transport solutions.
The Nairobi forum proposed the formation of a working group to oversee the implementation of the transition to electric mobility in Kenya.
Editor: Kelly
