Meg Whitman U.S. Ambassador to Kenya visited the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) assembly line in Thika on Thursday marked a significant development in the US-Kenya relationship.
Her visit comes three months after Kenyan President William Ruto’s historic state visit to the United States, which President Joe Biden described as ushering in a “new era of technological cooperation.”
During her visit, Meg noted the two countries’ growing alliance as well as the United States’ commitment to Kenya’s green industrialization goals.
The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for BasiGo approved a $10 million loan.
This funding is intended to significantly increase BasiGo’s fleet of electric buses and accelerate the country’s transition away from diesel-powered vehicles.
BasiGo, an e-mobility company dedicated to revolutionizing Kenya’s public transport system, recently reached a significant milestone with the assembly of its first two E9 Kubwa buses.
These 9-meter electric buses are specifically designed for the Kenyan public service vehicle (PSV) market.
The company has already received over 500 reservations from bus operators in Nairobi, as well as 300 from Kigali, Rwanda, indicating a strong regional demand for electric buses.
This also aligns with Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan by helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “This investment is crucial for scaling up our production and accelerating the transition to electric buses,” Bhattacharya said. “In the long term, as we locally assemble and manufacture these technologies at KVM, Kenya can become a key supply chain hub for green technology worldwide.”
Whitman’s visit to KVM highlights the importance of this U.S.-Kenya partnership in advancing both nations’ strategic interests.
“The United States is committed to supporting Kenya’s transition to green technologies and fostering local manufacturing capabilities,” Whitman stated during her tour. This partnership not only strengthens our economic ties but also contributes to global sustainability efforts.”
The assembly line at KVM is set to create 300 green manufacturing jobs, further reinforcing Kenya’s green industrialization strategy.
