Boda boda riders in Kenya are set to transition into green energy following the introduction of the first-ever electric motorbike shop in Nairobi by Mogo, a leading asset financier in East Africa.
The lender opened its first Kenyan shop in Nairobi, bringing an array of hope to motorbike riders who have been choking with high fuel prices.
Alongside the fuel reprieve, the lender further seeks to provide affordable e-bikes to boda boda operators and foster the adoption of environmentally friendly transportation in the country.
Located along Rubis Petrol Station on Jogoo Road in Nairobi, MOGO’s pioneering e-bike store marks the beginning of a strategic expansion plan to establish additional outlets in key urban centres in Kenya.
“The launch of our first electric motorbike store in the country underscores MOGO’s commitment to transforming the transport sector to green mobility,” said Mr Johannes Vohma, Head of Boda Sales at MOGO Kenya.
“Mogo has been leading the effort to promote the adoption of electric motorbikes in Kenya, to combat the adverse impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.”
Over the past year, the lender has partnered with various e-bike manufacturers, including Ampersand, Roam, Fika, Spark, and Spiro, to provide affordable financing options for boda boda riders seeking to transition to e-bikes.
As Kenya works towards meeting its 32 per cent greenhouse emissions reduction target in the next six years, MOGO’s goal is to promote the decarbonization of the boda boda sector, which serves as the primary mode of transportation for the majority of Kenyans due to its accessibility and flexibility.
During the launch event, MOGO, in collaboration with Car and General handed over the first-ever Piaggio electric tuk-tuk to the Tuktuk Network Operators. This tuk-tuk will be used by an operator in Mombasa to sensitize others on the environmental and financial benefits of e-mobility and for taxi services
The electric tuk-tuk is part of the recently unveiled range of three-wheelers, which includes the Ape E-City FX Max for passenger transportation and the Ape E-Xtra FX Max for cargo logistics.
The handover was done by David Chesoni, the Managing Director of Car and General – Trading, and George Rubiri, General Manager of consumer Business, to Vincent Were, the Tuktuk Operators Network Lead.
The average battery life of the passenger and cargo tuk-tuk ranges up to 140 km and 110 km respectively on a full charge, depending on driving conditions, terrain, and payload.
“We extend our gratitude to our partners Car & General for their ongoing support and shared vision for a cleaner, sustainable future of mobility,” added Mr. Vohma.”
IAN BYRON