Kenya’s transport sector is the second-greatest contributor to the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 13 percent of total emissions. Over 75 percent of Kenyans can access clean energy, so switching to electric vehicles (EVs) could help Kenya curb air pollution and reach its decarbonization goals. But far fewer than 1 percent of vehicles sold in Kenya annually are electric.

This working paper analyzes the obstacles that are hampering the transition to cleaner vehicles, identifies opportunities to tackle these problems, and compares Kenya’s efforts to promote electrification with what other countries are doing.

It finds that, to increase EV uptake, the Kenyan government will need to bolster policy and regulatory interventions; improve access to EV technology, infrastructure, and financing; enhance the economic and commercial environment; raise awareness; and build technical capacity. The proposed Interventions should be data driven and employ targeted modelling to weigh budgetary costs, estimate business value, and design and conduct pilot programs.

Africa is now regarded as the continent where sales of vehicles will surge the most, so tipping Kenya’s market toward EVs could have an impact beyond its borders—on other countries and on the climate.

The publication is funded by the Climate Works Foundation