BasiGo launches charging station at Athi River to boost sustainable public transport
In a significant boost to Kenya’s climate action agenda, BasiGo, the country’s leading electric bus provider, has commissioned a new high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Shell Athi River service station.
The launch represents a strategic expansion of Kenya’s “E-Mobility Backbone”, a dedicated network of charging infrastructure designed to replace fossil-fuel reliance with clean energy in the public transport sector. This is BasiGo’s third green energy hub hosted by Vivo Energy Kenya (Shell), following successful deployments at Shell Waiyaki Way and Shell New Gatitu in Thika.
The new station is critical to decarbonizing the high-traffic Nairobi-Kitengela-Machakos corridor, a route previously dominated by diesel-powered buses. By enabling electric buses from operators like Rembo Classic and Enabled Mashariki Sacco to recharge efficiently, the site directly supports the reduction of carbon emissions in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
The station features state-of-the-art charging technology capable of servicing four electric buses simultaneously. It is equipped with one CCS2 fast charger and one GBT charger, designed to minimize downtime for operators and make the switch to green energy commercially viable.
Speaking during the launch, Moses Nderitu, BasiGo Kenya Managing Director, termed the expansion as a victory for sustainable development.
“Every new charging site is a critical step toward a cleaner, more sustainable transport system for Kenya. Access to reliable charging remains the biggest barrier to the adoption of e-mobility, and partnerships like these are helping us overcome it,” Nderitu stated.
He emphasized that the facility proves green transport can thrive beyond the capital. “What’s especially important is that this station is expanding electric mobility beyond Nairobi’s city limits. Located on a key corridor linking Nairobi to Machakos, it gives operators the confidence to go electric. When operators know they can charge efficiently without disrupting schedules, the shift to electric becomes a straightforward business decision.”
The partnership aligns with Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by 2030. With the transport sector being a major contributor to urban pollution, initiatives like this are essential.
Since its inception, BasiGo’s fleet of over 100 electric buses has driven more than 7.5 million clean kilometers, avoiding approximately 3,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions and displacing over 1.5 million liters of diesel.
Peter Murungi, Managing Director of Vivo Energy Kenya, highlighted how the fuel retailer is pivoting to support this energy transition.
“Every day, we serve millions of Kenyans across our retail network, and today we are expanding that service to support electric mobility. Through partnerships like this, we are optimising our existing sites while supporting the growth of Kenya’s electric mobility ecosystem,” Murungi said. “Athi River is our third site with BasiGo, and we see significant potential to scale this infrastructure across our network as electric fleets continue to expand in Kenya.”
The Athi River station serves as a blueprint for the future of African transit, where renewable energy powers daily commutes. As BasiGo continues its “Road to 1000” buses initiative, fueled by recent investments from Proparco and others, the focus remains on building a comprehensive charging network that makes zero-emission transport the standard, not the exception, for Kenyan commuters.
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