During this year’s Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, I took a trip to the village in Western Kenya, the land of Ugali and Mukombero. Despite the tough economic times, the celebrations were good because, as Chinua Achebe says, a man must live.
While in the village, I realized one thing: the only mode of transport was a boda boda. They call them Nduthi, but as my mother would call them, they are Epikipiki. I also realized that all the Nduthis in the village were powered by petrol engines. The dust of the village, the fumes of petrol, and the noise made life very uncomfortable and unbearable.
Nairobi is not different. The majority of Nduthis in Nairobi and other major urban centers are petrol-powered. Those in Nairobi will tell you the harrowing chaos that the petrol-powered Nduthis cause within and without the Nairobi CBD streets. Therefore, the fact that 100 percent of them in my village were powered by petrol was no shock, but it kept me thinking about the future of this industry.
I asked some of the riders whether they knew that in the bustling streets of Nairobi, where the rhythm of life moves at breakneck speed, a silent revolution is sweeping through the boda boda industry with electric bikes slowly taking over the arena.
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Wafula Walubengo, the toughest boda boda rider on the village stage, the only man nicknamed Cheetah given how fast he moves and maneuvers aboard his motorbike, could not believe that there are electric bikes that move without making a sound. The man looked at me with the eyes of a psychiatrist who just discovered a village lunatic. But I stood my ground. The wind of electric bikes was here.
I asked Wafula and the rest whether they knew that in the future, the clunky roar of petrol engines would be replaced by the quiet hum of electric motorbikes from giants such as Spiro. They did not know. They asked about Spiro. It told them that it is a Kenyan-made innovation that is turning heads and redefining what it means to ride smart, fast, and sustainably.
“You are telling us that Kenya makes her electric motorbikes and that they are already on the Kenyan roads?” Wafula was not ready to let it go. “And you are telling me that these electric motorbikes are called Spiro?”
I showed them some photos and videos. The silence and the sleekness with which the Spiro motorbikes moved swept them off their feet. As the days melted for me to leave the village, I walked with a smile knowing I had done my part of taking the revolution gospel deep into the village.
The future of Kenya’s boda boda business is undoubtedly electric, driven by the need for cost efficiency, environmental sustainability, and innovation in the transport sector. Electric motorcycles, such as those championed by companies like Spiro Kenya, offer significant savings on fuel and maintenance costs, making them a more affordable option for riders who form the backbone of Kenya’s urban and rural transport networks. With fuel prices remaining unpredictable, electric bodas provide a consistent and economical alternative, ensuring riders can retain more of their earnings. Moreover, the growing network of battery-swapping stations and home charging options across the country enhances convenience, addressing range anxiety and operational downtime, which have been key concerns for adoption.
Environmental sustainability is another critical driver in the shift towards electric boda bodas. As Kenya faces the impacts of climate change, the reduction of emissions from motorcycles is essential for cleaner air and healthier cities. Electric bodas significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to their petrol counterparts, aligning with Kenya’s commitment to renewable energy and environmental preservation. Additionally, the government’s support for green initiatives and private sector investments in the electric vehicle ecosystem promise a robust infrastructure to sustain the transition. This shift not only reduces the carbon footprint but also positions Kenya as a leader in Africa’s green mobility revolution, offering a sustainable and forward-looking transport solution.
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