Electric mobility firm Kibo Africa has announced plans to deploy 10,000 electric motorcycles across Kenya within the next 12 months, marking a significant step in the country’s growing transition to clean transport solutions.
The initiative is part of a partnership with energy company Powerhive aimed at expanding battery-swapping infrastructure for riders.
The plan was unveiled on Thursday during the launch of the Kibo Spark electric motorcycle in Nairobi, where the two firms also signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on electric mobility solutions.
Kibo Africa Director Felix Mulwa said the company intends to accelerate the adoption of electric motorcycles by combining locally assembled bikes with a robust network of battery-swapping stations.
“We plan to launch around 10,000 bikes into the market over the next 12 months,” Mulwa said.
The company noted that the motorcycles have undergone extensive testing over the past three years and will initially be rolled out in Nairobi before expanding to other regions.
According to Mulwa, the initiative is primarily targeting the boda boda sector, which has become a key focus for electric mobility firms seeking to reduce the operating costs associated with conventional fuel-powered motorcycles.
He said riders using the Kibo Spark will have access to battery-swapping services across Nairobi, allowing them to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones instead of waiting for them to recharge.
Mulwa argued that the model could significantly lower operating expenses for riders at a time when fuel costs remain a major challenge.
“With the current fuel prices, a rider can save between Sh500 and Sh600 per day compared to using a fuel-powered motorcycle,” he said.
Beyond the first-year target, the company aims to deploy approximately 30,000 electric motorcycles within the next three years.
Powerhive Chief Executive Officer Christopher Hornor said the partnership combines the firm’s expertise in energy infrastructure with Kibo Africa’s experience in the motorcycle market.
Hornor noted that Powerhive has operated energy projects in Kenya for more than a decade and currently serves thousands of customers through mini-grid systems.
He added that the company has spent the past four years working alongside Kibo Africa on the engineering and development of the electric motorcycle ecosystem unveiled on Thursday.
“We’re committed to building the energy infrastructure layer across Africa, starting in Kenya,” Hornor said.
The rollout comes as Kenya witnesses growing investment in electric mobility, with several companies expanding electric motorcycle fleets, battery-swapping stations, and charging infrastructure in a bid to reduce emissions from the transport sector.
Industry players are increasingly targeting the country’s vast boda boda market, citing lower energy costs and reduced maintenance requirements as key advantages of electric motorcycles over conventional bikes.
Kibo Africa and Powerhive said their partnership will focus on expanding access to battery-swapping services as they work toward deploying thousands of electric motorcycles across the country.
