Kenya is falling behind Ethiopia and Rwanda in electric mobility adoption despite being one of East Africa’s earliest adopters, weighed down by slow policy action and weak incentives.

Ethiopia and Rwanda, though among the least motorised countries on the continent, now have a bigger share of electric vehicles (EVs) than Kenya, which pioneered the technology regionally.

An analysis by Berlin-based think tank Agora Verkehrswende and the German Agency for International Corporation (GIZ) shows that Ethiopia and Rwanda have overtaken, backed by more decisive policy action and clearer incentives.

Latest data reveals that Ethiopia now has over 115,000 EVs on its roads, about eight percent of its vehicles fleet. Rwanda has about 5,500 EVs, accounting for 1.4 percent.

Uganda and Tanzania have also made significant strides in e-mobility, but progress lags that recorded by peers Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. As of last year, Tanzania had an estimated 10,000 tw0- and three-wheeler EVs, and about 30 four-wheels. Uganda has 3,000 electric motorcycles and 24 electric buses, the only four-wheelers in the country.

Driving AfricaOverall, East Africa leads the continent’s EV transition, offering a model for cleaner transport in rapidly urbanising economies.“Electric mobility continues to advance in African countries, with East Africa emerging as the continent’s pioneering region,” notes the Agora and GIZ study, adding that the five countries can “leapfrog directly to electric mobility” as vehicle ownership expands.

Kenya played a central role in this early momentum, attracting private investment, particularly in electric motorcycles, and hosting firms assembling and deploying EVs. Growth has been driven largely by commercial use cases such as boda boda transport, where lower running costs make EVs attractive.

But this expansion has been largely market-driven, and policy lagging, the study suggests. Kenya has yet to adopt a comprehensive national EV framework, with its draft policy still under consultation.

This contrasts with Rwanda, which launched its e-mobility strategy in 2021, and Ethiopia, which has taken some of the continent’s most aggressive steps.

That state-led approach has delivered rapid results. The report describes Ethiopia as “by far” the regional leader in EV uptake, citing strong political commitment and a clear implementation strategy.

Rwanda, while much smaller, has also made notable progress through state-led policies and incentives. The country has prioritised electrification of motorcycles and public transport, backed by tax incentives, regulatory changes and plans to expand charging infrastructure. The authorities have also restricted the registration of petrol-powered motorcycle taxis, signalling a clear policy direction.

Mixed SignalsIn comparison, Kenya’s approach is more fragmented. While the private sector has driven innovation and early adoption, the absence of a fully implemented policy framework has created uncertainty around incentives, standards and long-term targets.

This uncertainty affects investor confidence. Although several companies have established assembly operations in Kenya, scaling remains constrained by limited access to affordable financing, technology and skilled labour.“Although many companies are already active…there is limited technological and financial capacity to scale,” the report notes, adding that stronger partnerships and coordinated investment are needed to build viable local industries.

Infrastructure is another constraint. Despite having one of the region’s more active EV markets, the rollout of charging stations remains limited and largely driven by private sector players. Across East Africa, the report highlights a broader shortfall in charging infrastructure as a “major roadblock to EV adoption.”Despite these gaps, Kenya remains the largest vehicle market in the region and has one of the most dynamic innovation hubs, a key advantage in the EV transition. Electricity is also significantly cheaper than petrol on a per-kilometre basis, supporting adoption among commercial operators.

The report argues that Africa is well positioned to benefit from the global shift to electric mobility, citing abundant renewable energy, access to critical minerals and a growing population.“Africa has the chance to become a key player in the future global EV industry,” it says, particularly if countries can build regional value chains and coordinate policy frameworks.

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