NAIROBI — Roam Electric, a Kenyan electric motorcycle manufacturer, says orders have doubled since fuel prices in Nairobi climbed to 198 shillings per litre — and briefly broke the 200-shilling barrier — following disruption to global oil supply caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Petrol prices in the capital are up 11% since the war began, according to rates set by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Diesel has risen faster, gaining 18% to reach 196.63 shillings per litre. The current maximum retail prices are valid until May 14.
“When fuel hit 200 shillings, orders went even crazier,” said Habib Lukaya, Roam Electric’s Country Manager, in an interview.
Roam Accelerates Production at Nairobi Factory
The surge in demand has pushed Roam to revise its manufacturing targets upward. The company plans to double monthly output at its Nairobi plant to 600 units and reach 1,000 bikes per month before the end of the year.
Roam assembles its electric motorcycles locally, giving it a production footprint that rivals importing from Asia cannot easily match.
Boda-Bodas Drive the Shift to Electric in East Africa
Motorbike taxis — known as boda-bodas — are the dominant form of last-mile transport in Kenya. Most run on petrol. As fuel costs rise, riders are calculating that the switch to electric pays off faster than it did a year ago.
Roam is not the only player watching this math change. Competitors including Zembo, Ampersand, and Spiro are also active across East Africa, each targeting the boda-boda market with electric alternatives.
Kenya Part of a Wider Global Pattern
The trend in Kenya mirrors what is happening elsewhere. In Southeast Asia, buyers are moving toward BYD electric vehicles. In Pakistan, electric rickshaws are selling out. In India, cooking oil shortages are lifting demand for electric stoves. Rooftop solar installations are accelerating from Germany to Nigeria.
For Kenya specifically, where urban transport depends heavily on two-wheelers, the economics of electric are sharpening quickly. A rider spending less on fuel each day notices the difference in margin.
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