Authority launches electric buses to beat carbon emissions
By Mathew.Ndungu, November 7, 2023
As the country races against time to combat unrelenting threats of climate change emanating from carbon emissions mostly by vehicles, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) hopes to significantly reduce the discharges by introducing seventh generation electric buses.
Already, over 300 modern buses that emit zero carbon have been unveiled by the authority in partnership with two matatu Saccos, MetroTrans and Super Metro and which have already begun ferrying passengers travelling into and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Carbon footprint
Henry Ogeyo, the KAA’s acting managing director noted that the modern buses are generally cleaner than gasoline and diesel engines and will go a long way in helping them reduce carbon footprint and the risks associated with respiratory, cognitive, and other health issues by 18 percent in five years.
“We plan to reduce carbon emissions by 18 percent in five years. We want to have zero carbon emission in the airport environment by 2050. This kind of partnership is critical and when we see the transport players migrating from fossil-fired-vehicles to electric-fired-vehicles, it makes us excited,” said Ogeyo.
Speaking during the launch of the new buses, Ogeyo further stated that the authority seeks to plant 54,000 trees in and out of its forest-covered land to aid the government’s intensified efforts of conserving the environment as well as reducing the impact of climate change.
During the launch, Principal Secretary, State Department for Transport Mohamed Daghar regretted that road transport has consistently been the major contributor to carbon emissions insisting that a time had come to charter an ambitious path to achieving a zero-emissions in public transportation system.
Greenhouse gas
Daghar called on local manufacturers to take the advantage of incentives provided in the Finance Act, 2023 to facilitate local assembly of electric buses to eliminate greenhouse gas for improved quality of life.
Harun Ngugi and Nelson Mwangi who are the representatives of MetroTrans and Super Metro saccos in the capacity of director and CEO respectively revealed that the vehicles will be operating in four routes including JKIA – Kitengela, JKIA – Expressway – CBD, JKIA – Utawala – Embakasi – Outering – CBD, JKIA – Expressway – Westlands.