Kenya Power Looks to Capture Growing EV Market Through Special Tariff

Kenya Power is stepping up efforts to bring electric vehicle owners onto a dedicated electricity pricing programme as the utility prepares for a larger role in the country’s growing transport electrification market.

The company has begun identifying customers who use grid power for vehicle charging and migrating them to a tariff created specifically for electric mobility. The exercise comes as electricity consumption linked to electric transport continues to climb, creating a new source of demand for the national distributor.

Under the pricing structure approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority in 2023, electricity used for vehicle charging attracts lower rates than standard commercial supply during designated periods. Kenya Power says the arrangement is intended to support adoption while creating a clearer picture of how the emerging sector is drawing power from the grid.

The utility has recorded Sh382 million in revenue from the e-mobility segment between July 2023 and April 2026. Internal projections point to a much larger market by the end of the decade, with annual charging-related revenue expected to approach Sh5.9 billion if vehicle uptake continues on its current trajectory.

Beyond revenue growth, the company is seeking more detailed information on charging behaviour. Separating EV consumption from other electricity uses allows planners to track where demand is concentrated, how it changes throughout the day and what network investments may be required as electric transport expands.

Kenya Power Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Siror said the utility intends to support wider adoption across multiple transport categories, including motorcycles, public transport fleets, logistics operators and commercial enterprises.

The customer base enrolled under the specialised tariff remains relatively small but is expanding rapidly. Kenya Power expects the number of metered e-mobility accounts to reach 1,000 before the close of the current financial year, up from 331 today.

Recent consumption figures illustrate how quickly the market has developed. Monthly electricity volumes associated with vehicle charging have increased from 13,500 kilowatt-hours at the start of the programme to about 1.5 million kilowatt-hours. Revenue growth has followed a similar pattern, reaching Sh35.25 million in February 2026.

The strongest demand remains concentrated in Nairobi, which accounts for the majority of electricity sales linked to electric mobility. Other regions contributing to the revenue stream include the Coast, North Eastern and West Kenya service areas.

The expansion reflects broader changes in Kenya’s vehicle market. Industry estimates indicate that more than 35,000 electric vehicles were registered nationwide by the end of 2025, compared with fewer than 800 three years earlier. Much of that growth has come from electric motorcycles, a segment increasingly viewed as a practical alternative for commercial transport and delivery services.

Forecasts from the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya place annual electricity demand from EV charging at 121 gigawatt-hours by 2030. Industry participants expect continued growth to be supported by fiscal incentives that reduce the cost of importing and operating electric vehicles, batteries and related technologies.

For Kenya Power, the emergence of transport as a meaningful electricity customer category is beginning to influence long-term planning decisions. As charging volumes increase, the utility faces the task of expanding supply infrastructure while accommodating a market that barely registered in national electricity demand forecasts only a few years ago.

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