The short answer#
EV charging in Kenya is governed by EPRA's Electric Vehicle Charging and Battery Swapping Infrastructure Guidelines, 2023, in force since 1 September 2023 under the Energy Act, 2019. A public charging station needs an electricity retail supply licence from EPRA before it is installed. Every charger, public or private, must be certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards or another accredited body, and must be inspected and given a completion certificate by a licensed electrical contractor before it is used. A home charger needs no EPRA licence.
What applies to which charger#
Clause numbers from the guidelines are in brackets. Home or office means a private charger for your own use.
| Requirement | Home or office | Public station | Swap station |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPRA licence | No | Yes (1.1) | Yes (Annex 1) |
| KEBS certified equipment | Yes (2.5) | Yes (1.6) | Yes (3.8) |
| Completion certificate | Yes (2.6) | Yes (1.5) | Yes (3.10) |
| Separate meter | Yes (2.7) | Yes (7.3) | Yes (7.3) |
| Minimum public facilities | No (2.2) | Yes (1.3) | Space rule (3.1) |
Applying for the public station licence#
Annex 1 of the guidelines lists what goes with the application. Among the items are a NEMA environmental impact assessment licence that covers the station, unless exempted; development permission from the county; and a fire safety certificate or evidence that the operator can handle lithium-ion fires. The annex sets an application fee of KES 10,000 and says EPRA evaluates an application within 60 calendar days once it is materially complete. Confirm the current fee and forms with EPRA before applying.
Connectors a public station must offer#
The guidelines name CCS and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging above 50 kW and Type 2 for AC charging (clause 1.3). Chargers for two and three wheelers may use other connectors if they meet KEBS and EPRA standards.
Prices and payment#
Operators set their own price, which must be just, reasonable and transparent, and EPRA may cap it (clauses 8.2 and 8.3). The price must be displayed per kWh, per minute and per session. Unless charging is free, a station must take secure payment that includes contactless card and a toll-free phone or SMS option (clause 8.4). Each charge point records energy and time per session to within 5% (clauses 9.1 and 9.2).
The electricity tariff#
The gazetted e-mobility tariff applies to charging stations and battery swap stations (clause 7.1) and to domestic charging (clause 7.2), each with separate metering (clause 7.3). See the Kenya Power EV tariff for the rates after Gazette Notice 15188 of 18 September 2026.
Where stations should go#
The siting guidance is one public station in every 3 km by 3 km grid in towns and one every 25 km on both sides of highways, with fast charging for long-range and heavy vehicles at least every 100 km (clause 5.1). Existing fuel stations may be given priority (clause 5.3).
Battery swap stations#
Swappable batteries need a battery management system with protection against thermal runaway (clause 3.2), remote monitoring (3.3) and a tamper-proof identification number that carries the battery's history through its life (3.4 to 3.6). Each swap station has its own number too (3.7), and staff must be trained (3.9).
What you should be handed after installation#
The installer hands over the completion certificate, as-built drawings, the manufacturer's warranties, a workmanship warranty of at least one year and the user manuals (clause 4.1). Complaints about a charging service go to EPRA under the Energy (Complaints and Disputes Resolution) Regulations, 2012.
A note on "2026 safety regulations"#
Some 2026 reporting refers to "Electricity (Electric Vehicle Charging Station Safety) Regulations, 2026" in Kenya. We found no Kenyan instrument with that title; a Zimbabwean statutory instrument carries it. The 2023 guidelines above are the text we work to, and this page will change when Kenya gazettes regulations.
Where Precifarm fits#
For a home, the Pulse charger is installed and certified by a licensed contractor; see home charging. For a public or fleet site, the engineering service prepares the electrical design, and ARC Corridor covers hosting a highway station. Start with the free EV survey. This page summarises the guidelines and is not legal advice.