Post by Judith Adem Owigar

Fuel just crossed the 200 KES (1.55 USD) mark in Kenya this week. And you can feel it everywhere in transport costs, food prices, service delivery. It’s pressure across the entire economy. At the same time, global uncertainty isn’t slowing down. The conflict in the Gulf and the volatility of fossil fuel markets are a reminder of how exposed we are in East Africa. This is exactly why the conversation on electric mobility is important. Electric vehicles, especially when powered by renewable energy, are not just viewed as a climate solution, they are an economic stability strategy. Last month, under the Tanzania Gateway for Trade, Transport and Environment (T-Gate) project, we took a delegation of Tanzanian government officials to Thailand for a peer learning study tour. Bangkok stood out immediately. A rapidly urbanizing city, balancing both formal and informal transport systems in a way that felt very familiar to growing East African cities. We visited an electric two-wheeler company and experienced their public transport ecosystem firsthand. But what stayed with me most was something simple. When we were picked up from the airport, our driver was using an electric car. Thailand was already starting to experience fuel shortages, but she told us she was largely insulated from the shocks. While others were worrying about fuel queues and rising prices, her operating costs were stable. That contrast was hard to ignore. For Kenya and Tanzania, the takeaway is clear. This transition is not just about adopting new technology, it’s about reducing economic vulnerability. Thailand is showing what happens when policy, private sector investment, and infrastructure start moving in the same direction. We don’t need to copy-paste their model, but we do need to move faster in creating the conditions: commitment to sustainable mobility outcomes including clear incentives, charging infrastructure, and support for local assembly and innovation. Because if we don’t actively build alternatives, we will keep reacting to shocks that we cannot control. Shritu Shrestha Emilie Martin Paschal Giki Cyril Liance Edna M. Annika Berlin UN-Habitat Urban Basic Services Stefanie Holzwarth Albina Minja #ElectricMobility #EVTransition #SustainableTransport #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Kenya #Tanzania #EastAfrica #ResilientCities #Tgate #portza

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