Younes Rabeh Kenya continues to strengthen its position as a continental leader in electric mobility, with a new milestone that confirms its pioneering role in clean transportation.
Bolt, one of Africa’s most influential ride-hailing platforms, has officially become Nairobi’s largest electric motorbike operator, with over 40% of its boda boda fleet now electric. This breakthrough reflects not only the country’s rapid progress in e-mobility adoption but also a major step forward for Africa’s broader green transport transition.
🌍 Kenya at the Heart of Africa’s E-Mobility Revolution
Over the past few years, Kenya’s e-mobility ecosystem has evolved faster than most markets on the continent.
Thanks to a mix of government policy, innovative startups, and investor confidence, the country has built a solid foundation for electric vehicles (EVs) — from motorbikes and buses to solar-powered charging infrastructure.
Bolt’s achievement confirms that the electric transition is no longer a future goal — it’s happening now. The company’s success is also a clear response to the National E-Mobility Policy, which aims to reduce transport emissions, promote local EV assembly, and encourage private-sector investment in clean mobility.
⚡ Financing Innovation: The Power of the Bolt x M-KOPA Partnership
Behind this growth lies one of the most impactful collaborations in Africa’s clean transport sector: Bolt’s strategic partnership with M-KOPA.
By combining digital mobility services with innovative pay-as-you-go financing, the partnership has enabled more than 1,700 riders to access electric motorbikes without paying the full cost upfront.
This financial inclusion model addresses one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in Africa — affordability. Riders can now earn while they pay, building ownership gradually and increasing their daily income in the process.
Through this partnership, Bolt achieved its 2025 electrification goals months ahead of schedule, proving the scalability of sustainable transport when technology meets accessible finance.
💰 A Win-Win for Economy and Environment
For riders, the switch from petrol to electric motorbikes is not only ecological — it’s economically smart.
Electric two-wheelers reduce daily operating costs by up to 60%, require less maintenance, and are immune to fuel price fluctuations.
In a market where every shilling counts, these savings translate directly into higher earnings and improved livelihoods.
The environmental impact is equally significant.
Bolt’s fleet has already recorded over 4.8 million electric rides, avoiding thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions and setting a benchmark for urban air quality improvement in East Africa.
This achievement supports Kenya’s national objective of achieving zero-emission transport and contributes to Africa’s broader climate resilience goals.
🔋 Local Ecosystem, Continental Impact
The success of Bolt’s electric fleet also strengthens the local EV ecosystem.
Companies such as Roam, Ampersand, and Spirra Africa are scaling up assembly operations within Kenya, creating new jobs, developing charging infrastructure, and supporting sustainable industrialization.
This growing synergy between ride-hailing platforms, EV manufacturers, battery suppliers, and fintech enablers showcases the pan-African potential of clean mobility.
From Nairobi to Kigali, Accra to Lagos, cities are looking at Kenya as a model of what can be achieved through smart partnerships and policy alignment.
🚀 The Road Ahead: Expanding Kenya’s Electric Future
Looking toward 2026, Bolt plans to expand its electric motorbike fleet even further, introducing new financing models and partnerships with charging network providers to make clean mobility even more accessible.
As Kenya’s energy mix becomes greener through renewable sources such as solar and geothermal, the benefits of electrification will multiply — reducing both carbon emissions and fuel import dependency.
This progress cements Kenya’s reputation as a regional hub for innovation, sustainability, and mobility transformation — a blueprint for other African nations pursuing similar goals.
🌱 EV24.africa Perspective
Bolt’s electrification success represents more than a company milestone; it signals a turning point for Africa’s mobility economy.
The future of transport across the continent will depend on scalable, affordable, and climate-resilient solutions — and Kenya is showing the way forward.
At EV24.africa, we believe this transformation is just beginning.
As more governments embrace e-mobility policies and private players invest in charging, assembly, and financing, Africa is on track to become a global reference for inclusive and sustainable electric mobility.
