Ruto Strikes Deal With Slovakia on Electric Vehicles

President William Ruto has signed a deal that will aid Kenya in the transition towards e-mobility.

The Head of State signed the deal with Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova on Monday, September 18 during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The deal entails the acquisition of advanced battery technologies from Slovakia that will be used to power electric vehicles in Kenya. In a statement on Monday, President Ruto voiced the importance of global partnerships with countries that have more advanced technologies to advance Kenya's economy.

Slovakia has a number of companies developing advanced e-battery technologies including next-generation lithium-ion batteries that are energy-dense, have a longer lifespan, and are faster to charge. This partnership is crucial for Kenya as it plans to transition to renewable energy. In Slovakia, there are various advancements in carbon fibre-based battery components that are lightweight and durable which makes them suitable for electric vehicles.

Slovakian companies specialize in battery management systems, battery testing and validation, and battery recycling. During the African Energy Forum on June 20, President William Ruto confirmed Kenya's plans to utilise 100% clean energy by the year 2030. According to Ruto, the renewable energy sector takes up around 73% of the current installed power generation capacity. The President lauds the continued efforts to expand the renewable energy sector including setting up various energy plants around the country.

On September 15, the Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced new fuel prices for the period of September 15 to October 14. EPRA raised the prices of Super Petrol to Ksh211.64, Diesel to Ksh200.99, and Kerosene to Ksh202.61 per litre in Nairobi.