Mobility in East Africa: A Sector Under Pressure
Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala regularly rank among the most congested cities in Africa. Traffic-related air pollution is a major public health concern: according to the WHO, Nairobi regularly exceeds recommended PM2.5 thresholds. The vehicle fleet is dominated by second-hand vehicles imported from Japan (matatus, boda-bodas), often old and highly polluting.
In this context, electric mobility represents a disruptive opportunity, and East African governments are beginning to recognise this, driven by climate commitments (NDCs, COP) and multilateral financing.
Kenya: Regional Pioneer of Electromobility
Kenya has unique advantages for the development of electric mobility. Its electricity mix is already 90% renewable (geothermal, hydroelectric, wind), giving EVs an exceptional carbon footprint. The Kenyan government adopted a National Electric Mobility Policy in 2023, exempting EVs from import duties and EVCI equipment from VAT.
Concrete initiatives are multiplying: BasiGo is deploying electric buses on the Nairobi-Thika and Nairobi-Limuru routes, Roam (formerly Opibus) is producing electric motorcycles and buses locally, and KPLC (Kenya Power) has installed the first public charging stations in Nairobi in partnership with private operators.
Tanzania and Uganda: Developing Markets
Tanzania has significant potential, particularly around Dar es Salaam and in the Arusha-Kilimanjaro tourist corridor. The Tanzanian government has signed an agreement with Volkswagen South Africa for the introduction of EVs into the government fleet, creating a strong market signal. In Uganda, solar charging pilots for electric motorcycles (dominant in Kenya and Uganda) are underway in the peri-urban corridors of Kampala.
Business Models Adapted to the East African Context
European EVCI models are not directly transferable to East Africa. The purchase cost of an EV remains prohibitive for the majority of the population, which steers the market towards:
- B2B fleets: taxis, ride-hailing vehicles, worker transport buses, delivery vehicles. These fleets enable economies of scale and a faster ROI.
- Battery swapping: suited to electric motorcycles (boda-bodas in Kenya, piki-pikis in Tanzania), this model avoids the cost of fast charging and solves the range problem.
- Off-grid solar charging stations: in peri-urban areas poorly served by the electricity grid, autonomous solutions (PV + storage + charging station) allow independence from existing infrastructure.
MASOF Consulting supports investors and operators looking to position themselves in the East African EVCI market with an in-depth understanding of local dynamics and available multilateral financing (African Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, PIDG).