Kisumu to lease farm, construction machineries - Nyong'o

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o on Thursday held a meeting with Car and General Managing Director David Chesoni.

During the meeting held at the governor's office in the Lakeside City, Nyong'o was informed that Car and General is planning to use Kisumu as a pilot county to explore electric vehicle opportunities.

"Car and General seeks to use Kisumu as a pilot county to explore electric vehicles opportunities especially two and three wheelers as the county strives to adopt clean energy technologies," said governor Nyong'o.

He added that his administration is keen on leasing as opposed to purchasing farm and construction machineries.

"The county government of Kisumu is keen on leasing as opposed to purchase of farm and construction machineries. In view of this we look forward to working with them and other interested partners in the areas of agriculture and construction," added the county boss.

The country is headed toward the electric vehicles direction, due to affordability and environmental consciousness aspects.

Last month, president William Ruto made headlines when he road in a yellow electric car from State House, Nairobi to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for the Africa Climate Summit (ACS).

The Autopax Air Yetu electric car was locally manufactured. It is estimated to cost between Sh1.5 million and Sh1.7 million.

According to Dr Isaac Kalua, the founder of Green Africa Energy, the parent company of Autopax Yetu, the president only used Sh10 worth of electricity from State House to KICC.

He added that a trip from Nairobi to Thika would consume about Sh90, which is significantly lower than the cost of for a petrol car.

Kalua added that an Autopax electric vehicle spends 40% of what one would have spent on petrol.