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In Eldoret, Kenya, rising air pollution and traffic congestion have worsened due to the rapid growth of gas-powered private transport. But thanks to support from the Season of Solutions and mentorship from Planeteer Alliance, a local team has launched a practical, community-driven response: E-Town for E-Bikes.
Led by Planeteer Shem Chirchir Kimeli, the project aimed to make clean electric mobility accessible to Eldoret residents—while educating the community about its environmental, financial, and health benefits.
Using funding from Season of Solutions, the team built three electric bicycles and acquired an electric motorbike, laying the foundation for an e-mobility pilot program in Eldoret. These vehicles enabled the launch of an affordable delivery and taxi service, supporting local businesses, farmers, and individuals.
The team partnered with two smallholder farmers to deliver tree seedlings and gooseberries, and later expanded to serve a refillable bottled water company and online delivery platforms like Glovo. In total, the project:
- Completed over 700 deliveries
- Logged 7,700+ kilometers on electric transport
- Avoided an estimated 2–3 tonnes of CO₂ emissions
- Delivered services to 26 local businesses
Additionally, E-Town for E-Bikes engaged thousands of Eldoret residents through:
- 30 weekend e-bike tours and rentals
- Participation in the Hell’s Gate Biking Fest and Eldoret Innovation Week, reaching over 2,000 attendees
- Public engagement efforts that shared information on e-mobility, climate solutions, and green living with an estimated 30,000 residents
These activities gave community members hands-on experience with light electric vehicles and helped shift perceptions around cycling, air pollution, and climate action.
The team also engaged 20 farmers—10 local and 10 from surrounding regions—on the benefits of e-mobility for sustainable agriculture and low-carbon transport. Delivery riders hired through the project gained new employment opportunities, contributing to local economic development.
Eldoret residents are now more aware of electric mobility as a viable alternative, youth are engaging with clean tech, local innovators are exploring electric transport solutions, and businesses are lowering their emissions while improving delivery logistics.
“I am really grateful to Planeteer Alliance for enabling us to have the opportunity to run this campaign,” shares Shem Kimeli, “ I am looking forward to submitting more campaigns for this opportunity in future. This is because it will enable me to have a more positive environmental impact in my community, especially in matters of green and sustainable energy and transport. It will also enable me to sharpen my skills in campaign strategy and implementation.”
E-Town for E-Bikes has created a replicable model—one that other cities can adopt—with real environmental, social, and economic outcomes.