BasiGo Launches Kenya’s First Electric Inter-City Matatu Pilot
TLDR
- Kenyan EV startup BasiGo has launched the country’s first electric matatu pilot on inter-city routes, expanding its efforts to decarbonise public transport beyond Nairobi
- The pilot, rolled out in partnership with 4NTE and Manchester Travellers Saccos, will see three electric vans operate between Nyahururu–Nyeri, Nyahururu–Nakuru, and Thika–Nairobi
- The project is BasiGo’s first outside urban centres, aimed at proving that EVs can serve longer routes and withstand the conditions of Kenya’s matatu system
Kenyan EV startup BasiGo has launched the country’s first electric matatu pilot on inter-city routes, expanding its efforts to decarbonise public transport beyond Nairobi. The pilot, rolled out in partnership with 4NTE and Manchester Travellers Saccos, will see three electric vans operate between Nyahururu–Nyeri, Nyahururu–Nakuru, and Thika–Nairobi.
Each van has a 300 km range and can be recharged in 90 minutes. BasiGo installed charging stations in Thika and Nyahururu to support the trial. Vehicles will be leased under its “Pay-As-You-Drive” model, a financing structure that reduces upfront costs for matatu operators.
The project is BasiGo’s first outside urban centres, aimed at proving that EVs can serve longer routes and withstand the conditions of Kenya’s matatu system. The company has set a target of deploying over 1,000 electric vans in the coming years. It raised $41.5 million in 2024 to expand its Nairobi assembly plant.
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Points clés à retenir
BasiGo’s inter-city pilot marks a turning point in Kenya’s e-mobility transition, targeting the informal matatu sector that forms the backbone of public transport. While EVs are gaining traction in cities, rural and inter-county corridors remain largely untouched. By piloting 300-km electric vans with SACCO partners, BasiGo is testing both infrastructure readiness and operator adoption in real-world conditions. The leasing model addresses cost barriers, but adoption still hinges on charging access, road conditions, and operator trust. Kenya’s matatu sector—long resistant to change—presents both risk and opportunity. If BasiGo can prove operational viability and cost savings, it could unlock demand from thousands of operators across the country. This pilot adds to a growing list of African electric mobility experiments moving beyond private vehicles and ride-hailing into mass transit. For Kenya, scaling clean public transport could significantly reduce diesel emissions while supporting local EV manufacturing and energy diversification.
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