President William Ruto said on Thursday that the government is looking into electric public service vehicles (PSVs) to keep transport costs low in the face of global oil price increases.
Ruto stated at the Embu Stadium during the country’s 60th Madaraka Day celebrations that reducing reliance on diesel and petrol is critical if Kenya is to address escalating transport costs.
“As international petroleum prices continue to rise beyond reach, the cost of fuel locally rises steeply. Transport, as a component of household budgets, is affecting the cost of living. We have to liberate Kenyans from reliance on transport that depends on petroleum. For this reason, we are rolling out an electric vehicle public transport system which will bring down the cost of transport significantly,” he said.
The Head of State specifically cited the motorcycle taxi industry, known locally as boda bodas, as one of the major areas where the government intends to introduce green vehicles.
“Our boda boda industry is about to experience inclusive transformation through the introduction of more efficient, affordable and clean vehicles. With this intervention, owning and operating a boda boda will become affordable, secure and profitable,” said Ruto.
Fuel prices are currently at an all-time high after Ruto’s administration eliminated a subsidy that had been in place since April 2021, leading to an increase in the cost of living due to increased manufacturing costs.
