Written By: Faith Jemosop
Electric Vehicles are no longer a fantasy for wealthy Europeans or Chinese industrialists. They’re here, in Kenya. They’re in your city, at your boda stage, behind that quiet hum on Thika Road. But who’s making them affordable? Who’s quietly changing Kenya’s roads while the government chases policy papers?
We asked the tough question, and what we found should matter to every Kenyan thinking about the future of mobility.
1. Spiro – The Silent Giant Nobody’s Talking About
This company is doing what most governments have only promised: scaling electric mobility, at speed. Spiro’s electric motorbikes dominate West Africa, but in 2024, they began penetrating the Kenyan market. By 2025, they’ve rolled out over 18,000 bikes and millions of battery swaps.
Why does it matter?
Because Spiro riders pay per swap, not per litre. And the cost? Less than half of petrol. They don’t wait to charge. They swap. In under 3 minutes. That’s how you disrupt an entire economy.
“We’re not selling EVs. We’re selling uptime,” says one Nairobi dealer.
2. Ampersand – East Africa’s First, Still Fighting
Launched in Rwanda but now fighting for a share of Nairobi’s streets, Ampersand’s business model is no-nonsense. You lease the battery. You swap it. You go.
In 2023, they set up seven battery-swap stations in Kenya. By mid-2025, they’re expanding to Kisumu and Eldoret. Their bikes can ride 90 km per charge for about KES 200. Compare that to petrol, and you get the picture.
3. BasiGo – What’s a Tesla in Silicon Valley is a Matatu in Nairobi
Forget Teslas. Think BYD. BasiGo leases electric buses to matatu owners. You don’t buy the bus, you pay per kilometre. In 2025, over 20 buses are on the road, with three charging depots in Nairobi. By year-end, they plan 100 more.
How do they keep it cheap?
Their “Pay-As-You-Drive” model bypasses bank loans. That means matatu owners make the switch without selling their land.
BasiGo isn’t selling buses. They’re selling transformation.
4. Roam – Swedish Brains, Kenyan Muscles
Roam doesn’t sell EVs. It converts them. Safari jeeps, matatus, even buses, ripped of their fuel guts and reborn with batteries.
Their electric safari Land Cruisers? Built for Amboseli. Their electric matatus? Quiet, clean, and shocking the transport unions.
Also read: How Can We Empower Women in Electric Vehicles and Improve Safety?
But at what cost? Around KES 4 million per converted vehicle. Not cheap. But necessary. Because if Roam scales, legacy vehicles won’t end up in junkyards, they’ll be reborn electric.
5. Mobius Motors – Can a Kenyan Car Survive Kenya?
For years, Mobius Motors promised a locally made car for local roads. In 2024, they made it electric. Enter Mobius III EV, an SUV for the dusty roads of Kitui and the muddy climbs of Kericho.
Price? Around KES 3.5 million ($25,000). Not cheap. But it’s Kenyan. No import taxes. Local parts. And finally, pride.
The first 150 units sold out within 6 months.
6. Kiri EV – The Underdog That’s Actually Delivering
No flashy press conferences. No international summits. Kiri EV has quietly been rolling out e-bikes for boda bodas. Built to handle 200 kg, with 150 km range, and charging under 4 hours.
Their bikes cost under KES 300,000, and they offer leasing plans.
They don’t have millions in funding. They have something more powerful: user trust.
7. Go Electric (UTU Cars) – Solar Power Meets Street Power
This isn’t just an EV dealer. It’s a solar solution. Go Electric sells electric saloons, 3-wheelers, pickups and more, and matches it with solar charging stations.
By mid-2025, they deployed several charging hubs in Nakuru and Machakos.
They’re making the EV dream affordable for businesses outside Nairobi.
8. Autopax – Kenya’s First Real EV Car Assembler
Autopax’s Air EV Yetu is small. But its impact is big.
Assembled in Kenya, priced between KES 1.5–2 million, and ideal for city commutes, this compact car is the first real proof that Kenya can build its own EVs.
Forget imports. This one’s homegrown. And that means jobs, parts, and prices that make sense.
9. HK Motors – China’s Budget EV Comes to Africa
Chinese EV brands aren’t new. But HK Motors is different: they’re not pretending to be premium. They’re offering basic, reliable electric cars at KES 2–2.5 million.
Perfect for Uber drivers, company fleets, or anyone who just wants to move from A to B without emissions or oil changes.
10. Ecotrify – Lease. Rent. Return. Repeat.
Not ready to buy an EV? Ecotrify gets it. They let you rent. Lease. Even try before you buy.
Their catalogue includes used EVs, locally assembled options, and global models. And they’ve made it easy to join the transition, without upfront cash.
But What Does ‘Affordable’ Really Mean?
In Kenya, ‘affordable’ is relative. But here’s what you’re actually paying:
| EV Type | Price (KES) | Monthly Cost (if leased) | Fuel Savings |
| E-motorcycle (Spiro) | 250,000 | KES 5,000–7,000 | 60% less than petrol |
| Compact EV (Autopax) | 1.5–2 million | KES 35,000–40,000 | 70% lower running costs |
| EV Bus (BasiGo) | N/A (leased) | KES 20/km | 30–50% lower total cost |
The Barriers No One’s Solving Yet
- Charging is still urban: Try finding an EV charger in Garissa. You won’t.
- Spare parts are slow: When an EV breaks, it stays broken, unless you’re in Nairobi.
- Insurance is tricky: Most underwriters still don’t know how to price EV risk.
Also read: Why Electric Vehicles Are Stalling in Kenya
Kenya isn’t just adopting EVs. It’s building them. It’s assembling them. It’s running them on solar. It’s turning boda bodas into battery-swap pioneers. That’s not just a tech story, it’s an economic revolution.
So when the next flashy international EV summit ignores Africa, remember this:
In Kenya, the EV shift isn’t happening in boardrooms. It’s happening on dusty roads, with boda riders, matatu owners, and solar panels.
