Kenya is moving forward with its plan to expand its electric public transport network, thanks to a new financing partnership between the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (NCBA) and BasiGo. The collaboration aims to support private sector vehicle (PSV) operators by providing leasing and asset finance options, making it easier for them to transition to electric buses. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels and lower emissions in urban areas.
The partnership is expected to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across Kenya’s cities, where traffic congestion and air pollution are growing concerns. By offering flexible financing solutions, NCBA and BasiGo hope to address one of the main barriers to electrification—high upfront costs. The initiative also aligns with Kenya’s national climate goals, which include increasing the share of renewable energy in transportation.
So far, the program has seen interest from several local transport companies, though the exact number of participants remains undisclosed. The success of the project will depend on how well the financing model works in practice and whether it can be scaled across the country. As the project progresses, it could serve as a model for other African nations looking to modernize their public transport systems.
