William Ruto Says He'll Replace 2m Boda Boda With Electric Motorbikes: "We've Set Timelines"

• President William Ruto emphasised his commitment to environment-friendly policies, particularly in the motor industry
• Ruto invited investors to seize opportunities in Kenya's transition from fossil fuels to electric power, focusing on e-mobility
• The president revealed plans to replace all of Kenya's two million boda boda motorbikes with electric bikes, setting timelines for the transition

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - President William Ruto is on a charm offensive to woo investors during his latest official trip to India.

Ruto opens up about plans to shift to electric bikes

During a meeting with Indian investors on Wednesday, December 6, the head of state continued his environment-friendly policies.

Ruto invited investors to take advantage of Kenya's transition from fossil fuels to electric power in the motor industry.

The president explained that his administration had laid out plans to replace all boda boda motorbikes with electric bikes.

He explained that the country was changing policy, and timelines had been set to ensure the transition.

"We also have a big opportunity in e-mobility. I was having a conversation with TVS; I'm sure there are some sitting somewhere in this room, and I was explaining to them that, in Kenya alone, we have two million motorbikes commonly known as boda boda.

Our intention is to replace all the two million with e-bikes and, of course, the whole transport industry, from buses to motor vehicles to three-wheelers and the rest of it. There is an opportunity for manufacture and we are committed ourselves to e-mobility. We are changing policy, and we have set timelines on when we must transit to e-mobility," Ruto said.

Kenyan who bought electric motorcycle returns it after 1 week

In a related development, a Kenyan who purchased an electric motorcycle on a KSh 500,000 loan was forced to return it after its battery failed to meet his demands.

The boda boda operator argued that the bike's battery could only last for 60km, an equivalent of one hour, and takes four hours to recharge, affecting his business.

Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) Secretary General Stephen Mutoro shared the man's complaints on Twitter, now X platform, saying he was lucky to be refunded his deposit of KSh 30,000.