Kenya Power Plans to Build 45 EV Charging Stations Across Six Counties

Kenya Power has announced plans to install 45 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across six counties within the next 12 months.

The stations will be installed in Nairobi, Nyeri, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa and Taita Taveta counties, as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s shift towards sustainable transportation.

“Kenya Power is committed to enable the country’s transition to electric mobility to catalyse the reduction of carbon emissions,’’ said Kenya Power’s Managing Director & CEO, Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Siror.

‘’Part of our plan is to create an enabling environment for players within the e-mobility ecosystem through the provision of adequate power supply and the requisite infrastructure, such as charging stations, that will enable motorists to travel with ease,” he added.

Kenya Power has already installed 13 stations in Nairobi and is now seeking to expand its reach as the demand for EVs in the country continues to rise. As of this year, Kenya has 9,047 registered EVs, up from 2,694 in 2023 and 5,294 in 2024. Electric motorcycles account for about 90% of this number. 

The state-owned power utility has recently been stepping up efforts to increase the uptake of EVs in the country.  In line with its commitment to sustainable energy and green mobility solutions, the company announced in April last year an investment of up to $1.996 million (KShs. 258 million) over a three-year period to support the uptake of electric mobility in Kenya. The investment focuses on two core areas: the establishment of charging infrastructure and the acquisition of electric vehicles and motorbikes for its operational needs. 

According to Parag Mendiratta, the Regional Manager, Eastern Africa at Eaton Electrical Sector in a previous op-ed published, ‘’Kenya must take proactive steps to avoid this bottleneck. Building out the charging infrastructure is essential, not just in urban centres but also along highways and in rural areas.’’

‘’This will require significant investment, both from the government and private sector players,’’ he said. 

In less than a year, Kenya Power said it was billing less than 100,000 units of electricity on e-mobility accounts. ‘’Today, we are billing an average of 350,000 units from the accounts, representing more than triple the growth in electricity demand from this customer segment over this period,” said Dr. (Eng.) Siror.

The Kenyan government has committed to a 32% reduction in emissions by 2030, with the transport sector being a key target due to its significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.