Kenya is positioning itself as a regional hub for electric mobility after President William Ruto witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Kenya and Endelevu Enterprise Corporation that could unlock a proposed $3 billion investment in an integrated green mobility ecosystem.
The agreement, signed at State House Nairobi, is expected to support the development of electric vehicle (EV) assembly, charging infrastructure and supporting value chains, strengthening Kenya’s ambitions to shift its transport sector away from fossil fuels and imported petroleum.
President Ruto said the investment would help move Kenya beyond importing electric vehicles towards developing a domestic manufacturing ecosystem capable of serving the wider African market.
“This partnership is about building Kenya’s capacity to manufacture, assemble and support electric mobility here at home. We want to create jobs, transfer technology and ensure Kenyan businesses participate across the entire electric vehicle value chain,” Ruto said.
The proposed investment comes as Kenya’s e-mobility industry expands, driven by growing demand for electric motorcycles, buses, cars and commercial vehicles. Electric motorcycles, in particular, have emerged as one of the most commercially promising segments because of their lower operating costs compared with petrol-powered motorcycles.
Kenya’s large motorcycle taxi, or boda boda, sector provides a significant potential market for electric two-wheelers. Thousands of riders depend on motorcycles for passenger transport, deliveries and small-business operations, creating opportunities for electric mobility companies to introduce vehicles with lower energy and maintenance costs.
The proposed Endelevu investment could broaden this transformation by supporting not only vehicle assembly but also charging networks, battery-related services, maintenance, technology and other components of the emerging green mobility ecosystem.
For Kenya, developing local assembly and supply chains is also seen as a way of reducing exposure to imported fuel. Transport remains one of the major consumers of petroleum products, leaving the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in international oil prices and foreign exchange pressures.
Ruto said the transition to electric mobility should therefore be viewed as both a climate and economic strategy.
“Kenya’s transition to clean mobility will reduce our dependence on imported fuel while opening a new industrial opportunity for our country. We are determined to make Kenya a regional centre for green mobility manufacturing, innovation and investment,” he said.
The government expects the partnership to generate thousands of jobs while creating new opportunities for Kenyan manufacturers, technology companies, technicians and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The development of charging infrastructure will be particularly important as Kenya seeks to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles. Limited charging facilities remain one of the challenges facing e-mobility markets across Africa, alongside the cost of vehicles, battery financing and concerns over access to reliable electricity.
An expanded charging network could help address range concerns and make electric vehicles more attractive to private motorists, public transport operators and commercial fleets.
Kenya has increasingly presented renewable energy as an advantage in its e-mobility strategy. With a power system heavily supported by geothermal, hydro, wind and solar generation, the country has the potential to link transport electrification with its broader clean-energy transition.
The planned investment could also strengthen Kenya’s position in regional electric mobility value chains, particularly as African countries seek alternatives to imported vehicles and fossil-fuel-dependent transport systems.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the agreement points to a wider industrial policy: using the transition to electric transport to build manufacturing capacity, develop technical skills and attract international capital.
If implemented at scale, the $3 billion proposal could mark a significant step in Kenya’s effort to transform e-mobility from an emerging transport alternative into a major pillar of the country’s industrial and economic development strategy.
