Kenya Power has unveiled plans to roll out electric vehicle charging points as a way to boost its revenue streams as more electric vehicles and motorbikes enter the market.
The company announced early this week that it’s planning to build a network of nationwide public charging points, a challenge electric car owners are currently facing.
“As part of our implementation plan, we are developing appropriate infrastructure and building internal capacity to enable us to support the use of electric vehicles across the value chain,” said Kenya Power managing director Bernard Ngugi yesterday.
“To this end, we plan to set up charging facilities across the country beginning with Nairobi to support direct charging of vehicles.”
Kenyans, who more than once have called the company out on social media for its poor services, were however quick to ridicule Kenyan power’s plan saying it will still be shoddy.
Many have been accusing the company of neglecting its customers because of a monopoly urging the government to allow other players to join.
Hahaha they can't even guarantee stable Power supply in the first place. Those electric cars will be left stranded at the charging stations.
— Laibon (@kiplimo_dc) March 3, 2021
In Nairobi, this is viable, you travel with your Ev upcountry and the lights are off for a whole week. ???
— TheDukeofKitui (@carlmwania) March 3, 2021
we will be stuck in charging stations as we wait for electricity to avail itself. pic.twitter.com/Kou6VGEiOW
— Submissive daktariLinnie???? (@LinniewaGC) March 4, 2021
The announcement comes just days after Kenya Electricity Generating Company(KenGen) also announced that it’s investing in electric cars and when Kenya Power rolled out a partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Wednesday unveiling a pilot electric bikes project in Kenya.
A new dawn approaches for affordable #ElectricVehicles in #Africa with the launch by @UNEP of a pilot batch of eMotorcycles from @Global_TAILG received by partners @KisumuCountyKE @KenyaPower @Powerhive_Kenya and @karurafriends to support the many young start-ups on #emobility pic.twitter.com/J6VeMEa95W
— Sustainable Transport Africa (@SusTranAfrica) March 4, 2021
Here are more reactions on the announcement:
The same Kenya power that serves us blackouts like they are in BBI? Unaplan kuenda safari, Kenya Power wanacheza kama hao unakwama!
— Sir Mosser (@lockichar) March 3, 2021
Let me just laugh because… Outages?
You've stalled because "our tactical team".. ?— Wild Flower ? (@Nizzie_K) March 4, 2021
@rebecca_miano please take over on this one because no one can rely on @KenyaPower_Care . pic.twitter.com/v7OhivRJ7T
— Fuanah Fedhi (@bubethi) March 3, 2021
