By By Business Express Reporter,
The appetite for electric motorcycles in Kenya is growing rapidly, fueled in part by delivery companies and small businesses looking for cost-effective and environmentally friendly transport. Yet, for many riders and entrepreneurs, the high upfront cost remains a formidable obstacle. Financing options are limited, and most purchases have been restricted to cash buyers—slowing down adoption and excluding a significant portion of the market.
It is against this backdrop that Roam, a Nairobi-based electric mobility company, has joined forces with Fortune Credit, a digital credit provider and microfinance institution, to roll out an ambitious financing program designed to make electric motorcycles more accessible. The initiative, which starts with an order of 600 Roam Air Gen 2 motorcycles, promises to give small business owners and informal sector riders a new path to ownership.
“By offering a locally made, zero-emission motorcycle with a flexible ownership model, we’re enabling more riders and businesses to switch to electric, save money, and create jobs,” said Habib Lukaya, Roam’s Regional Sales Operations Manager. “This is the future of transport in Kenya—clean, affordable, and built for us.”
The financing model is straightforward but transformative. Riders will pay a deposit of Sh25,000, followed by Sh527 daily for 24 months. At the end of the term, they will fully own both the motorcycle and the battery. The package is comprehensive: it includes motorcycle insurance, Hospicash health cover, and access to Roam’s charging ecosystem—complete with portable home charging solutions and public Roam Hubs.
The motorcycles being financed are the Roam Air Gen 2 models, recently launched with over 40 rider-informed improvements. Among the notable upgrades are a reinforced 240 kg frame, a dual-battery system with a range of up to 160 km, stronger waterproofing, enhanced safety with a secure battery-locking mechanism, and improved comfort for long rides.
Beyond transforming personal mobility, the partnership is also a win for Kenya’s manufacturing ecosystem. With 36 percent of the motorcycle’s components now locally produced, surpassing the threshold set by Kenya’s Legal Notice 112, the program is expected to stimulate domestic value chains, create jobs, and deepen the country’s e-mobility sector.
For many observers, the entry of microfinance institutions into e-mobility marks a turning point. It signals that the sector is maturing, with financial players beginning to recognize both the commercial potential and the broader socio-economic benefits of green transport.
David Ekabouma, Managing Director – Fund Management at GreenMax Capital Group, welcomed the move, noting that inclusive financing will be vital in accelerating the adoption of clean technologies. “This partnership is a milestone for Kenya’s e-mobility sector and a model for the region. It shows how blended finance—combining donor capital with commercial execution—can catalyze transformative change. By empowering local lenders, we are not only meeting rising demand for clean transport but also building financial resilience for small-scale entrepreneurs,” he said.
For Roam, the initiative is not just about selling more motorcycles. It represents a deliberate effort to dismantle systemic barriers that have excluded underserved communities from participating in the green transition. As Lukaya put it, this is about reshaping the future of transport—one affordable, zero-emission ride at a time.
