By Mumbi Mutoko
Washington DC-based Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Kenya have inked a Sh8.877bn ($60 mn) deal in an effort to improve urban connectivity and bolster economic growth.
The program, which was jointly designed by MCC and the Kenyan government, is set to tackle challenges related to urban connectivity, primarily in Nairobi. It aims to strengthen institutions and support improvements in long-term planning for integrated, accessible, and safer transportation and land use.
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It will also provide financing support for the acquisition of climate-friendly buses for the emerging bus rapid transit (BRT) network, including electric buses for line 2 of the BRT system, a move that will alleviate traffic congestion in Nairobi. The grant will also go towards providing a robust electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), public charging stations will be strategically placed every 25 kilometers along highways, ensuring convenient access for EV users.
So far, EPRA’s new guidelines emphasize on the importance of charging infrastructure for long-range EVs, such as SUVs, buses, and trucks, with at least one fast-charging station every 100 kilometers along highways.
For long-range EVs such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and heavy-duty vehicles like buses and trucks, EPRA specifies the need for at least one fast-charging station with suitable charging infrastructure every 100 kilometers, positioned on both sides of the highways or roads.
Another notable guideline: charging facilities for heavy-duty EVs will be strategically located at bus stops within the cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakru and Kisumu. However, the guidelines do not mandate swapping facilities within cities for buses, or trucks.
“At least one charging station should be available in a grid of three kilometers by three kilometers. Additionally, one charging station shall be set up at every 25 kilometers on both sides of highways/roads,” said EPRA.
