In Nairobi's congested streets, the almost imperceptible hum of electric motorbikes is increasingly replacing the roar of their petrol-powered counterparts.The war in the Middle East, launched by the United States and Israel in February, has had the unlikely consequence of boosting green vehicles across Africa, especially in countries such as Kenya that are heavily dependent on fuel imports."Boda-bodas" -- the name given to motorbikes in Kenya -- are a vital part of the economy in the east African nation, used to transport everything from people to groceries to furniture.Wisly Onyaiti, riding his large black boda, says the savings from switching to electric have been huge -- roughly 2,000 shillings ($15) a day cheaper than running a petrol bike, a significant sum in a country where many workers earn barely $100 a month."Electric bikes are a game-changer," said Onyaiti, who works as a bike-taxi driver to fund his criminology and digital marketing studies.The savings have only increased since the start of the Mideast conflict, which has driven fuel prices up around 22 percent in Kenya.
Sales of electric motorbikes are booming as a result -- up around 40 percent in the last three months, according to the E-Mobility Association of Kenya.Several e-motorbike companies are competing for the booming trade, including ArcRide, Ampersand and Roam.But it's Spiro, an African startup, that currently dominates, with around 90 percent of sales in Kenya.At Spiro's factory on the outskirts of Nairobi, workers assemble motorbikes with smooth efficiency. At full capacity, they can produce more than 400 a day.Since coming to Kenya in September 2023, Spiro's sales have rocketed from 4,000 in 2024 to 14,000 the following year, and they are targeting 50,000 in 2026."Growth has been tremendous, quite exponential," said Raymond Kitunga, Spiro's number two.The brand, which also has a presence in Uganda, Rwanda, Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon, estimates that around 100,000 of its two-wheelers are now on African roads. It wants to triple that by the end of the year.Policy is helping: Rwanda has banned traditional motorcycles in its capital, and Uganda is pushing for a rapid transition to electric two-wheelers.Spiro says these two markets alone represent a potential 1.5 million customers.- Rapid transition -The electric transition is much faster than in the West because motorbikes are primarily a commercial vehicle rather than a weekend luxury, said Hezbon Muse, Kenya director for Ampersand.And in a developing economy with high fuel prices, every little saving can make a huge difference.
