Kenya Power Steps Up EV Infrastructure With Ksh 258M Charging Station Rollout
Kenya’s electric mobility ambitions are gaining traction. Kenya Power has announced plans to invest Ksh 258 million over the next three years to scale up charging infrastructure and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
The utility says it will set up 45 new charging stations across six counties, including Nairobi, Kisumu, and Nakuru, in the next year. The goal is to create a wider charging network that lowers the anxiety many drivers feel about switching from petrol and diesel to electric transport.
Each station, equipped with both AC and DC fast chargers, costs about Ksh 6.5 million to deploy. Kenya Power has already piloted the model at its headquarters, Stima Plaza, which now hosts the country’s first public charging station.
The Bigger Push for E-Mobility
Kenya’s EV movement has grown rapidly in the past two years, with startups importing electric motorcycles, buses, and cars, while corporates experiment with green fleets. The government has supported the trend with tax breaks on EV imports and policy frameworks encouraging clean energy adoption.
For Kenya Power, the opportunity is clear. With electricity demand often trailing available generation, EV charging offers a new commercial use case for idle capacity. The utility is also positioning itself as the backbone of Kenya’s green mobility transition, leveraging the country’s 90% renewable energy mix.
Questions Around the “Ksh 6.1 Billion” Figure
Reports have circulated that Kenya planned to spend Ksh 6.1 billion on charging stations. However, no official government or Kenya Power documents confirm this figure. Based on current cost estimates, such an amount would fund hundreds of charging stations, far beyond the 45 announced.
The discrepancy may come from misreporting, or from broader government infrastructure budgets being confused with Kenya Power’s specific rollout. What is confirmed, for now, is the Ksh 258 million investment over three years.
What It Means for Kenya’s EV Market
The rollout of 45 new charging stations could prove pivotal. Range anxiety has been one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption, particularly outside Nairobi. By putting chargers along key urban corridors, Kenya Power will help de-risk investments for both consumers and fleet operators.
Still, questions remain. Who will own and operate the stations long-term? How will tariffs for EV charging be set? And will private companies be allowed to compete in the same space, or will Kenya Power dominate early infrastructure deployment?
The answers will shape whether Kenya builds a competitive EV ecosystem, or simply a state-led network with limited room for innovation.
