In the dusty hills above Machakos town, a quiet revolution is gathering speed — and it’s electric.
Roam, the Kenyan startup shaking up East Africa’s transport scene, has officially expanded to Machakos County. The company opened its latest shop at the Mua View Service Station, just six kilometres outside town, marking another milestone in its national push to make electric motorcycles mainstream.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti presided over the launch on 30 April, calling it a “win for clean energy and economic empowerment.”
“We’re proud to have Roam here,” she said. “This is the kind of innovation that lifts our young people and keeps our environment clean.”
Roam’s arrival is already generating buzz among the region’s boda boda riders the informal motorbike taxis that keep Kenya moving. The firm’s flagship model, the Roam Air, has been tested on the rugged slopes of Iveti and Kituluni Hills, where roads wind sharply and gravity plays tricks.
Built for the Hills
“We tested it fully,” said Allan Musembi, chairman of the Machakos Boda Boda Association. “We carried heavy loads, passengers even up the steep hills and it didn’t disappoint.”
“The savings are real,” he added. “Charging at home costs a fraction of what we pay for petrol. It means more money for our families.”
Roam’s electric bikes can be charged at home for around KES 80, giving riders up to 100 kilometres of range more if using the dual-battery system. For comparison, covering the same distance on a standard petrol-powered bike would cost more than KES 500 in fuel, based on current prices from Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
A Cleaner, Cheaper Ride
The Machakos outlet will offer sales of the Roam Air, battery charging and rental services, plus full after-sales support. Riders can rent charged batteries at KES 20 per hour, helping to cut downtime for those without access to home charging.
Roam’s expansion is backed by a growing partnership with Total Energies, which now hosts five Roam Hubs across Kenya. The petrol stations once dominated by fossil fuels are becoming new hubs for clean mobility.
Habib Lukaya, Roam’s Field Operations Manager, says Machakos was a deliberate choice. “It’s not just about market size. It’s about proving that electric mobility works beyond Nairobi,” he said. “This terrain is tough. That’s why it was important to put the Roam Air through real-world tests with actual riders.”
Financing for All
To make its bikes more accessible, Roam has teamed up with financing firms including M-Kopa, Mogo, and Watu Credit. Riders can now pay as little as KES 10,000 upfront and KES 460 daily an amount many earn back within a few trips.
This localized approach is part of what Roam says is its edge. “Designed in Africa, for Africa” isn’t just a slogan it’s the company’s blueprint, reflected in every component of its motorbikes.
The launch in Machakos follows a similar opening in Thika, Kiambu County, in late 2024. More counties are on the radar, as Roam aims to become a truly national and eventually Pan-African brand.
For now, though, the focus is on the hills and valleys of Machakos, where early adopters are already embracing the change.
“Electric bikes are not the future,” Musembi said with a smile. “They’re the present and they’re right here with us.” Roam’s electric bikes provides a unique opportunity for key stakeholders in climate action and urban sustainability to explore its cutting-edge solutions for clean and efficient urban transport.
