• Kenya’s BasiGo unveils KL-9 electric bus with King Long, assembled locally by KVM.
• Company targets 20 buses a month by 2026 and 1,000 in circulation by 2027.
• Strong backing includes $42 mln Series A funding led by Africa50 in 2024.

Kenyan company BasiGo announced on September 11 the launch of the KL-9, an electric bus developed with Chinese manufacturer King Long and assembled locally by Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM). Powered by a next-generation battery supplied by China’s CATL, the KL-9 marks a new milestone in the industrialization of electric mobility in East Africa.

BasiGo plans to produce more than 20 units per month starting in 2026, aiming for 1,000 buses on the road by 2027. The launch follows a series of pilot projects. In July, the company introduced Kenya’s first electric intercity matatus in partnership with the 4NTE and Manchester Travellers Coach cooperatives. These 16–19 seat minibuses, with a 300 km range per charge, serve routes linking Nyahururu, Nyeri, Nakuru, and Thika to Nairobi.

In May, BasiGo also inaugurated Rwanda’s first electric intercity bus line, connecting Kigali to several southern towns. These initiatives are backed by strong financing. In October 2024, the company raised $42 million in a Series A round led by Africa50, including $24 million in equity and $17.5 million in debt. The funds were earmarked to expand production capacity in Kenya, develop new technology platforms, and prepare new models such as the KL-9.

Kenya offers particularly favorable conditions for the expansion of electric mobility. According to the IEA, over 90% of the country’s electricity already comes from renewable sources, making the shift to electric transport both environmentally and economically sound. On the industrial front, assembling the KL-9 through KVM positions Kenya as a regional pioneer in building local value chains for clean mobility.