The Africa EV Mobility Expo Kenya 2025, East Africa’s premier platform for electric mobility and sustainable transport innovation, wrapped up at The Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi after bringing together more than 100 global and regional industry leaders.
The three-day expo was organized by MIE Events DMCC in collaboration with Global Exhibitions Inc. The event was supported by the Ministry of Roads and Transport as well as the State Department for Transport. The event highlighted transformative technologies that would help Africa to move toward clean and efficient mobility systems.
Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, who was represented by the State Department of Energy Assistant Director Erik Apunda, reiterated Kenya’s commitment to leading electric mobility adoption not only across the East African region but also the entire continent. The government, he said, is going to set up 10,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations all over the country by 2030.
According to Apunda, the country’s draft electric mobility policy that is currently in front of the Parliament proposes tax reforms that are aimed at reducing the price of EVs and increasing their use.
Independent expert Eng. Michael Muchiri, supported the same point of view and said that, at present, EVs are two to three times more expensive than traditional fuel-powered vehicles because of taxation, and that this factor is the main reason for that cost.
At the expo, specialists suggested that local assembly of EVs through completely knocked-down (CKD) kits should be the first strategic move for setting up a local e-mobility manufacturing ecosystem. They further added that it would help in creating jobs and in absorbing the country’s foreign exchange.
The government had already introduced measures to speed up the transition. As per the directives of the Treasury, companies producing at least 30% of an EV locally will be entitled to a 50% reduction of their taxes.
Officials and industry players concurred that the substantial increase of local assembly and consequent local manufacturing of key vehicle components would not only deepen Kenya’s industrial base but also create thousands of jobs for the youth.
By harnessing over 90% of its electricity from renewable sources, opening up its manufacturing sector, and putting in place attractive government incentives, Kenya is getting itself ready to lead the electric mobility revolution in Africa.