By Ebi Kesiena
President William Ruto on Friday launched electric motorcycles at Mama Ngina Waterfront Park.
The launch of the electric motorcycles, commonly known as e-boda boda, comes three months after President Ruto on Madaraka Day announced Kenya will roll out local production of electric bikes.
The motorbikes, which will retail at Sh150,000, is manufactured by Spiro, an electric motorcycle manufacturer with a presence in Togo, Benin, Rwanda and now Kenya.
According to Spiro, the e-boda boda are only charged once at night.
While the riders will also be allowed to swap their depleted batteries for fully charged ones at Spiro’s electric bike battery swapping centre.
According to the Kenya Kwanza government, the initiative aims to accelerate e-mobility adoption, empower youth and lower the operational cost in the boda boda industry.
Boda boda operators have been complaining of the ever-increasing cost of fuel.
Also, the government noted that these new motorcycles will cushion the boda boda industry from high fuel prices.
The Head of State was accompanied by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and a host of national and county leaders.
