NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Kenya rose by 41.06 percent, surpassing the 5,000 mark in 2024 as the country intensified efforts to decarbonize its transport sector, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said on Thursday.
EPRA said in its latest industry report that the number of EVs increased to 5,294 by the end of 2024, up from 3,753 in 2023.
"This growth can be attributed to government initiatives such as the introduction of a special electric mobility tariff, a reduction in excise duty on electric vehicles from 20 percent to 10 percent, the exemption of fully electric cars from value-added tax, and the expansion of charging infrastructure," EPRA said in the report released in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.
EPRA said electric mobility is gaining traction in Kenya as part of a broader strategy to decarbonize the transport sector.
According to the report, Kenya has implemented various policies to promote electric mobility, including the Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (2020), which aims to ensure that at least 5 percent of imported vehicles annually are electric.
Kenya also signed the COP26 declaration on accelerating the transition to 100 percent zero-emission cars.
Daniel Kiptoo, director-general of EPRA, said the increased adoption of e-mobility during the period led to a corresponding rise in electricity consumption, signaling a steady shift toward a cleaner transport sector.
Total electricity consumption in the sector reached 1.80 gigawatt-hours in 2024, marking a 480.65 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to EPRA.
