By Ellys Mugunda
The government has taken a symbolic yet strategic step toward a low-carbon future with the introduction of green number plates for all electric vehicles (EVs), coinciding with the official launch of Kenya’s National Electric Mobility (e-Mobility) Policy.
Speaking on February 3 during the launch of the policy framework in Nairobi, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir directed that all electric vehicles will henceforth bear distinctive green reflective number plates. The directive takes effect immediately and applies to all categories of EVs.
Chirchir described the green plates as a “signature” for citizens and companies actively supporting carbon footprint reduction, making zero-emission vehicles more visible, identifiable, and aspirational on Kenyan roads. Conventional petrol and diesel vehicles will retain their existing reflective plates.
He urged motorists to consider switching to electric vehicles, citing lower operating costs, reduced air pollution, and the growing importance of climate action in urban areas where transport emissions and poor air quality remain major challenges.
The move is anchored in Kenya’s newly launched National Electric Mobility Policy, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning the transport sector to sustainable energy across road, rail, air, and maritime systems. The policy supports Kenya’s commitment to cut national greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.
“Transport accounts for about 25 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. By accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, Kenya is acting where it matters most—cutting emissions while modernising mobility,” Chirchir said.
A central pillar of the policy is infrastructure development, including the expansion of EV charging stations in major urban centres such as Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, supported by ongoing investments from Kenya Power.
The framework also introduces fiscal incentives to accelerate adoption, including reduced import duties on electric vehicles, tax relief on batteries and charging equipment, and a dedicated electricity tariff for EV charging with lower off-peak rates to make charging more affordable.
To strengthen local value chains, the policy promotes domestic assembly and manufacturing of EVs and components, alongside skills development through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and universities to support the emerging e-mobility industry.
Socio-economic inclusion is another key focus, with deliberate efforts to ensure the participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the green transport transition.
Kenya has already seen rapid growth in EV adoption, particularly electric motorcycles, which increased from 678 registered units in 2022 to about 24,000 units in 2025. The policy targets electric vehicles to make up at least five per cent of all new vehicle registrations, with a long-term ambition of full electrification and net-zero emissions by 2050.
With nearly 90 per cent of Kenya’s electricity generated from renewable sources such as geothermal, wind, and hydropower, the country is uniquely positioned to scale up electric mobility without placing significant strain on the national grid—making the green plates not just symbolic, but a marker of a broader structural shift in Kenya’s transport future.
