As the world accelerates toward a greener future, e-mobility is emerging as a powerful solution. It helps combat climate change, reduce air pollution, and lower transportation costs. Still, policy gaps are a significant challenge in East Africa. This is especially true in Kenya. These gaps slow down the transition to e-mobility.

In this blog, I explore how policy presents challenges for the future of e-mobility in the region. It can also act as a potential catalyst.

Why Policy is a Challenge to E-Mobility Adoption

In many parts of Africa, weak or outdated policy frameworks pose significant barriers. These barriers hinder the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). While technological innovations and growing environmental awareness are pushing the movement forward, policy inconsistencies are holding it back. The areas of inconsistency are:

1. Lack of National Roadmaps

Many developing countries lack a clear national strategy. Without this stakeholders like other governments, investors, innovators, and the public are left without direction. This creates uncertainty and slows momentum.

2. Weak Regulatory Support

Industry regulations are to good for certainty. Where there are often no set standards players feel discouraged. E-mobility requires setting standards for electric vehicles, batteries, or charging systems. When not done it discourages manufacturers and importers, and leads to a fragmented, unregulated market.

3. Limited Financial Incentives

Most African governments, including Kenya’s, have not fully embraced fiscal tools. They have not adopted tax breaks or subsidies to make EVs more affordable. In contrast, fossil fuel industries often continue to receive subsidies or favorable policies. This hinders progress.

4. Policy Bias Toward Fossil Fuels

Years of infrastructure development centered on petrol and diesel have created systemic inertia. This makes it difficult to shift focus toward clean energy alternatives.

5. Implementation Gaps

Sometimes policy can exist. However, poor enforcement, underfunding, and bureaucracy slow down action.

Policy Gaps in Kenya and East Africa

Kenyan and East African experience the following policy deficiencies:

1. No Comprehensive National E-Mobility Policy

Kenya has yet to launch a dedicated, actionable national e-mobility policy. The absence of a central framework leaves different actors operating in silos with limited synergy.

2. Taxation and Import Barriers

In the region EVs and related equipment still face import duties and VAT. There is also no consistent tax incentive structure to lower the cost of ownership for EVs.

3. Lack of Charging Infrastructure Regulation

There is no national guideline or requirement for EV charging infrastructure. This includes:

• standards for connectors and voltage,

• Public charging requirements

• Grid integration policies

This makes it hard for investors and businesses to build a reliable charging network.

4. Absence of Battery Recycling Policies

Kenya lacks a policy for battery life cycle management for recycling and disposal. As the EV market grows, this will become a major environmental concern.

5. Limited Integration with Public Transport

There is no clear strategy to transition public transport like matatus, buses and boda bodas into electric models. Pilot programs are few. Most available are led by the private sector with minimal government support.

6. Poor Inter-Ministerial Coordination

E-mobility involves transport, energy, finance, and environment ministries. However, there’s often:

• Poor collaboration

• Duplicated or conflicting mandates

• Regulatory confusion

7. Lack of Consumer Awareness Campaigns.

Kenya does not have state-led education efforts to inform the public about:

• Benefits of EVs

• Cost savings

• Safety and environmental impact

This limits consumer confidence and demand.

What the Way forward?

To fast-track e-mobility adoption, Kenya and East African countries must address these policy gaps through:

• Enacting a national e-mobility policy and roadmap

• Zero-rating EVs, batteries, and charging equipment

• Mandating infrastructure development for charging stations

• Establishing battery recycling laws

• Setting clear targets for EV uptake

• Supporting public transport electrification

• Launching public education campaigns

• Training workforce on EV maintenance and safety

What I think:

E-mobility is not just a technological shift. It’s a policy revolution. Governments must rise to the challenge by crafting policies that are bold, coherent, and forward-looking. Only then will Africa unlock the full benefits of clean, sustainable, and inclusive transport systems.m

Kenya has a unique opportunity to lead the region in e-mobility transformation. This will depend on how fast and how well the policy environment adapts. What are your thoughts? Let’s share…