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President William Ruto has announced that the government has procured 3,000 electric vehicles for use by security and administration officers, in a move aimed at reducing fuel dependency and cushioning the country from volatile global oil prices.
Speaking during the State of the Nation Address on Friday, Ruto said Kenya must embrace electric mobility as a sustainable solution to recurring fuel challenges and rising energy costs affecting both households and businesses.
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“We must embrace electric vehicles as a first step, and the government has already ordered 3,000 electric vehicles through the Ministry of Interior for use by our security and administration officials,” he said.
He explained that the initiative is part of a wider strategy to transition Kenya towards cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable energy systems while easing pressure from fluctuating petroleum prices.
Ruto noted that adopting electric vehicles would significantly reduce government transport costs while positioning Kenya as a regional leader in green mobility and clean energy innovation.
He further revealed plans to fast-track the adoption of electric mobility by exempting the first 100,000 electric vehicles imported into the country—whether for public or private use—from import duty.
“I am also making a declaration that the first 100,000 electric vehicles to be imported into Kenya will be duty-free,” he said.
The President added that the government is working with private investors to set up electric vehicle manufacturing plants locally, aimed at creating jobs and boosting domestic production.
He said the shift to electric transport is part of a broader long-term plan to transform the economy beyond the current fuel price challenges.
“This is not just about addressing the current crisis, but about building a more resilient and self-reliant economy for the future,” he said.
The announcement comes amid public concern over rising fuel costs, which have increased transport expenses and contributed to a higher cost of living.
Ruto also reiterated that diesel prices will be reduced by a further Sh10 per litre in the upcoming June–July fuel review as part of ongoing government interventions to stabilise fuel costs.
