Kenya has the second-highest number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Africa, signalling the country’s push to curb carbon emissions by shifting away from petroleum-powered transport.
A survey by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) shows that Kenya had 235 such stations in 2025, only behind Egypt, which had 300. The survey revealed that more than 25 countries on the continent did not have a single EV charging station.
Kenya’s private sector has taken the lead in installing EV charging stations, mainly spread in Nairobi and satellite towns. The State-owned Kenya Power has in recent times installed several stations at its offices.
EVs are part of a global push to reduce environmental pollution by cutting carbon emissions from the transport sector, with major economies setting timelines to stop production of diesel- and petrol-powered vehicles.
‘The Government of Kenya is actively promoting electric mobility by facilitating the adoption of electric vehicles through various initiatives, including tax incentives, rebates and the enhancement of electric vehicle infrastructure,’ ECA says in the report.
‘Certain Governments, notably those of Kenya, Morocco and Rwanda, are endorsing electric mobility, thereby fostering an environment that is conducive to attracting investment in technical services.’
Ethiopia and Rwanda had 100 and 40 EV charging stations, respectively, last year, making them the other East African nations spearheading the shift from the use of fossil fuel-powered engines.
Mobility startup firms BasiGo, Roam Electric of Sweden, Ampersand, and Kiiri EV are some of the private firms leading in the installation of the charging stations.
Kenya Power has at least 10 EV charging stations and 15 smart socket deployment sites across the country, complementing similar efforts by the private firms.
BasiGo recently rolled out a joint venture with Rubis Kenya to set up EV charging points at the fuel stations owned by the OMCs. The first such facility was installed at the Rubis service station at Sabaki along Mombasa Road.
Recently gazetted guidelines show that highways will have public charging stations located every 25 kilometres on both sides of the roads in Kenya, while in cities, the charging stations for heavy-duty units like lorries and buses shall be located at bus stops.
Kenya is currently experiencing a surge in the uptake of electric vehicles and motorcycles, a shift largely boosted by the growing number of players entering the sector to assemble the units and set up the charging infrastructure.
Official data from the National Transport and Safety Authority shows that Kenya had 35,661 EVs, with motorcycles being the majority at 33,374 and only 829 motor vehicles. The rest are three-wheelers.
Major economies have set ambitious deadlines for the shift to the production of EVs, moves that will significantly increase the number of EVs in African countries given that the continent imports used motor vehicles.
China, for example, targets having 70 percent of all new cars being manufactured as EVs or hybrids by 2030, while Japan targets to have all new passenger vehicles to be electrified or hybrids by 2035.