Grace Ashiru
Kenya’s oldest bus operator, Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd (KBS), has acquired its first electric bus as part of a strategic initiative to modernize its fleet.
Having operated since 1928, the bus company has added a 36-seater electric bus to its lineup. This bus was constructed at Kenya’s first dedicated, high-volume assembly line, managed by BasiGo and situated at the Kenya Vehicle Assembly plant in Thika.
The new KBS electric bus will serve the routes from CBD to Kibera, CBD to KNH, and CBD to Utawala.
“We are thrilled to join forces with BasiGo, Africa’s premier electric bus company, to enhance our fleet,” stated Edwins Mukabanah, KBS Managing Director, during the launch of the new bus at Kencom.
KBS has announced the purchase of an additional 25 E-Buses, which are set to be delivered in the coming months.
“We also aim to lead in electric charging infrastructure, ensuring that all electric vehicles entering Nairobi can be charged at the KBS depot,” Mukabanah added.
Samuel Kamunya, BasiGo’s Head of Business Development, announced that BasiGo is collaborating with PSV Operators to implement technologies aimed at making public transport in Kenya cleaner, greener, and more convenient for all.
“We are excited to welcome KBS to the e-mobility community as we tackle climate change and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each electric bus we introduce to our roads mitigates 50 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, thereby reducing air pollution and contributing to a greener Nairobi. Our goal is to deliver 100 locally assembled electric buses to Kenyan operators by 2024,” Kamunya stated.
KBS and BasiGo operate under a similar model, which includes driver training, route simulation, service depots, and a centralized operations center.
Since launching in Kenya in March 2022, BasiGo’s electric buses have driven over 2 million kilometers and carried more than 3 million passengers. With more than 500 orders from bus operators in Nairobi, BasiGo aims to supply over 1,000 locally manufactured mass transit electric buses to PSV operators in Kenya within the next three years. This initiative is set to create over 300 green manufacturing jobs.
