As electric mobility (e-mobility) gains ground across Africa, Kenya stands out as a country with bold ambitions and a growing demand for sustainable transportation. With vehicle numbers expected to rise dramatically by 2030 and transport already contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
But amidst this push for cleaner transport, a vital element is being left out of the conversation: Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). A recent article by Geoffrey Gitau on Sun-Connect News offers a compelling case for why the future of Kenya’s e-mobility might depend less on imports—and more on its own streets, traditions, and community wisdom.
Beyond Imported Solutions
Today’s dominant approach to e-mobility in Kenya often revolves around importing electric vehicles, usually designed for vastly different infrastructure, climate, and social contexts. These vehicles are expensive, difficult to maintain locally, and often mismatched with the needs of the majority population.
But Kenya already has a wealth of mobility solutions born out of necessity, adaptation, and innovation. Think of the Mkokoteni handcarts used in Nairobi’s bustling informal sector, or the Chukudu bikes of Eastern Congo—vehicles that are low-tech but high-impact, built with local materials and customized for real-life use.
These aren’t outdated relics. They are proven blueprints for efficient, durable, and context-appropriate mobility. What’s missing is the investment and innovation to bring them into the 21st century—powered by electricity, informed by local knowledge, and supported by policy.
The Case for Indigenous Knowledge
Indigenous Knowledge Systems represent generations of problem-solving, engineering, and sustainability rooted in a deep understanding of local environments. In the context of e-mobility, IKS can contribute to:
- Design thinking that prioritizes function over form, matching vehicles to actual transport needs.
- Resource optimization, using materials and skills readily available in the community.
- Inclusive innovation, where solutions emerge not from distant R&D labs, but from collaboration with local artisans, youth, and entrepreneurs.
IKS can also help overcome some of the major barriers to e-mobility adoption in Kenya, such as cost, infrastructure gaps, and cultural mismatch. By supporting localized solutions—like electric Mkokotenis or solar-charged cargo bikes—Kenya can build a sector that is not only sustainable but economically empowering and socially embedded.
Toward a Homegrown Mobility Movement
Imagine an e-mobility future that isn’t imported, but made in Kenya. A future where:
- Young people are trained to design and maintain electric cargo bikes.
- Local workshops build and assemble components.
- Transport solutions reflect the actual habits and challenges of the population—not just what’s trending in Europe or Asia.
This vision isn’t a fantasy. It’s a missed opportunity waiting to be seized.
To make it happen, stakeholders—from government and NGOs to the private sector and academia—must recognize the value of IKS. They must fund research, shape policy, and create infrastructure that honors and integrates local knowledge rather than replacing it.
Conclusion
Kenya’s e-mobility future holds immense promise—but only if it taps into its greatest resource: its people. By blending Indigenous knowledge with clean technology, Kenya can chart a mobility path that is not only green and efficient but truly homegrown.
It’s time to shift the narrative. The next great innovation in e-mobility may not come from a showroom in Silicon Valley, but from a dusty road in Kisumu, a workshop in Kibera, or a hand-drawn blueprint in the hands of a local craftsman.
🔗 Read the original article here: https://sun-connect.org/establishing-connections-between-e-mobility-innovation-and-indigenous-knowledge-insights-from-kenya-2/