KAA launches electric buses to operate in Nairobi

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Wednesday launched new bus routes from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to various locations within Nairobi.

The move which KAA terms as landmark, is geared towards sustainable urban transportation. KAA is partnering with Metrotrans East Africa Limited and Super Metro Limited in the initiative.

"These routes will be serviced by cutting-edge 7th generation and electric commuter buses, embodying our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and enhanced passenger experiences," KAA said in a statement.

The launch was graced by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Transport, Mohamed Daghar.

Daghar shed light on the extensive benefits of electric passenger buses, highlighting their environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness over the long term, and lower operating and maintenance costs compared to traditional diesel or gasoline buses.

KAA Board Chairman, Caleb Kositany, noted that the authority has achieved Level 2 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) for JKIA, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Moi International Airports.

“This achievement reflects our strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability across all our operations. In line with this, we have also embarked on an ambitious environmental program aimed at promoting a culture of tree planting. We are actively contributing to the national goal of planting 2 billion trees, with every KAA staff member expected to plant 30 trees," said the former MP.

"The newly introduced buses have been meticulously designed with accessibility in mind, featuring wheelchair ramps to ensure that KAA’s services are inclusive and easily accessible to everyone, irrespective of their physical abilities," added KAA.