Electric vehicles across Kenya will now be issued with green reflective number plates following a new directive by the government aimed at promoting clean mobility and reducing carbon emissions.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 3, by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir during the official launch of the national e-mobility policy framework.
The CS confirmed that the new plates take effect immediately and will apply to all categories of electric vehicles operating in the country.
“This will be the new kid in town. All electric vehicle number plates will now be green — registered in green,” Chirchir said while addressing delegates at the event in Nairobi.
According to the Transport CS, the green plates will serve as a clear visual identifier for electric vehicles, reinforcing the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that lower carbon emissions.
“The green number plate will be the signature for those of us supporting the reduction of carbon footprints,” he added.
[Photo: Dennis Matara/Facebook]
Chirchir urged motorists to consider switching to electric vehicles, highlighting their lower running costs and environmental advantages compared to conventional fuel-powered cars.
He clarified that vehicles using petrol or diesel will continue to bear their current reflective number plates, even as the government intensifies efforts to cut down the number of fuel-driven vehicles by 2030.
The rollout of green number plates had originally been scheduled for 2024 when former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was in office, but the plan was delayed for several months before its eventual implementation.
Under the new directive, electric vehicles will display green number plates at both the front and rear, making them easily recognisable as zero-emission vehicles on Kenyan roads.
President William Ruto made a striking entrance at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi on September 4, 2023, by driving himself in a yellow Autopax Air EV Yetu electric car from State House to the KICC. [Photo:PSC]
During the launch, Chirchir reiterated Kenya’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030, stressing that the transport sector remains central to achieving that target.
“Meeting this goal requires action across every sector, and transport plays a crucial role,” he said. “Globally, transport contributes about 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. By fast-tracking electric mobility, Kenya is making deliberate choices to cut emissions while modernising its transport systems.”
Beyond environmental gains, the CS noted that the growth of electric mobility presents economic opportunities, including local vehicle assembly, manufacturing, and job creation.
The move marks a significant policy shift as Kenya positions itself as a regional leader in the adoption of sustainable transport solutions.
