Establishing Connections Between E-mobility Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Kenya

This research paper argues that Kenya can accelerate its transition to e-mobility and create more youth employment by integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the design, assembly, and maintenance of electric vehicles. While Kenya has seen a surge in EV sales and has a high renewable energy mix (90%), current policies favor the import of fully built units over local manufacturing. The paper highlights successful local innovations, such as the 'eMkoko' cargo cart, but notes that the 'jua kali' informal sector remains ignored. It recommends policy reforms to incentivize local assembly, zero-rate manufacturing machinery, and incorporate IKS into formal technical education to overcome barriers like high battery costs and inadequate rural charging infrastructure.

• Kenya's transport sector is a significant source of emissions, contributing 11% of total CO2 emissions and 67% of energy-related emissions. The country has the highest motorisation rate in East Africa at 4.19% and expects to reach 70 vehicles per 1,000 persons by 2030. To mitigate this, Kenya's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets a 32% reduction in net CO2 emissions by 2030, with a goal for the e-mobility sector to mature by 2040.
• Current Kenyan policies prioritize the import of electric vehicles (EVs) to accelerate adoption and lower costs, but this approach may hinder the use of Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) for local green technology development. While EV sales grew from 65 in 2018 to 4,047 in 2023, the transition has not sufficiently integrated IKS, which the paper argues is essential for increasing employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women.
• Indigenous knowledge is being applied in Kenya's e-mobility sector through both formal and informal channels. Examples include Ecomobilus' 'eMkoko' electric cargo cart, which adapts the traditional 'mkokoteni' design, and Linncell Technologies' custom utility scooters and EV designs for persons with disabilities. Other IK applications include retrofitting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles into electric versions and using second-life lithium cells for batteries, as seen in the partnership between Enviroserve and Ecomobilus.
• The e-mobility landscape in Kenya faces several structural and financial barriers, including high upfront costs for batteries, inadequate and uncoordinated charging infrastructure, and skill shortages. While renewable energy made up 90% of the power mix as of June 2024, power costs remain high. Additionally, tax burdens persist, with all EVs incurring a 25% import duty and 10% excise duty, while lithium-ion batteries and charging infrastructure also face a 25% import duty.
• There is a significant gap in the formal recognition and integration of IKS within e-mobility policy and education. The 'jua kali' (informal) sector is largely ignored by existing policies despite its potential for homegrown battery repair and component manufacturing. While the government has a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, there are no specific controls to regulate informal IKS for e-mobility skills, and most technical training is provided by a few institutions like Spiro Academy and Strathmore University.
• The paper recommends several policy shifts to better leverage IKS, including prioritizing local manufacturing over the import of Fully Built Units (FBUs), providing tax exemptions for all unassembled EV parts, and zero-rating plant and machinery for EV manufacturing. It also suggests creating incentives for solar-powered charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas where 25% of the country is off-grid, and integrating IKS into the formal Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

APA

Gitau, G. (2025). Establishing Connections Between E-mobility Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Kenya. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/establishing-connections-between-e-mobility-innovation-and-indigenous-knowledge-insights-from-kenya

Chicago

Gitau, Geoffrey. Establishing Connections Between E-mobility Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Kenya. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2025. https://afripoli.org/establishing-connections-between-e-mobility-innovation-and-indigenous-knowledge-insights-from-kenya.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gitau |first1=Geoffrey |title=Establishing Connections Between E-mobility Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Kenya |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=23 June 2025 |url=https://afripoli.org/establishing-connections-between-e-mobility-innovation-and-indigenous-knowledge-insights-from-kenya |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gitau2025establishing, author = {Gitau, Geoffrey}, title = {{Establishing Connections Between E-mobility Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Kenya}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://afripoli.org/establishing-connections-between-e-mobility-innovation-and-indigenous-knowledge-insights-from-kenya}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }