Road to Addis (official page)

1600 km electric mobility Roadtrip Nairobi - Addis Ababa

Greening Africa’s Trade Corridors: Nairobi to Addis Ababa. The Road to Addis is a bold demonstration of how East Africa’s trade and transport corridors can be powered by clean energy and sustainable mobility. In the lead-up to Africa E-Mobility Week 2025, this 1,600+ km electric journey will connect Nairobi and Addis Ababa, two capitals anchored in renewable energy growth.

About the Road to Addis Electric Roadtrip:

Road to Addis is an initiative by Media space Intro Africa and storytelling agency Thought Leader Africa

Platinum partner powering the Road to Addis: Munja Energy

The convoy consisted of a vehicles from Kabisa, Spiro, Roam and KPLC

Main partners are: Africa E-Mobility Alliance, Africa E-Mobility Week, Ethiopian Ministry of Road and Logistics, Kenyan Ministry of Road and Transport, – a great collaboration and facilitation og power from sub stations along the route from KPLC – Kenya Power and Ethiopian Electricity Utility without this key involvement this would have been an almost impossible task, Kabisa, Spiro, Kuehne Foundation, Norwegian Embassy Addis, Norwegian Embassy Nairobi, Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa

Supporting partners are: Eazy Power PLC, Ethiopian Petroleum and Energy Authority, Nice innovation incubation centre, Taxime, Dodai, Lion Green Solutions, Zijazo, Basigo, Roam Electric, UNEP, House of Procurement, Advanced Mobility Centre, E-Cars Society of East Africa, Ampersand , Ethiopian Energy Utility EEU, Petroleum & Energy Authority

The Road to Addis bridges this gap. By linking Nairobi and Addis Ababa through a shared corridor, the journey demonstrates how clean transport can extend beyond capitals into the heart of cross-border trade routes. At every stop, whether in towns, counties, or universities, the mission will spotlight the economic, environmental, and social benefits of greening transport.

Through awareness campaigns, dialogues with local governments, and direct community engagement, the Road to Addis shows that sustainable transport is a tangible opportunity. For communities along the route, it means resilience, new markets, and inclusion in a greener future of trade and mobility.

Day 1 – Flagg Off and road to Nanyuki

Video Day 1

Reflections by Paul Kidero – Intro Africa: Day one of the Road to Addis was a day I had been anticipating for some time. It marked a new chapter, my first time driving an electric car, my first time heading to Ethiopia, and my first time preparing for such a long road trip: 1,600 kilometers across two countries.

The Send-Off at Uhuru Park

The day began at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, where we gathered for the official launch. It was energizing to see so many people curious and excited about electric vehicles. You could feel the spark in conversations people asking how EVs work, realizing they might be cheaper to maintain, and wondering if we would really make it all the way to Addis Ababa. That curiosity is exactly what this journey is about: proving what’s possible.

When the convoy rolled out of Uhuru Park, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. This was stepping outside my comfort zone. Normally, as a photographer and drone operator, I stay behind the camera. But here I was, in front of the lens, interacting with people, and being part of something historic. It felt like personal growth happening in real time.

We rolled out with our partners Munja Energy powering the journey, Kabisa with the Truck and pickup, Kenya Power in the Jac and our electric main motorcycle partner Spiro and support partner Roam Electric going all the way and Ampersand joining the first drive. Supported ny a number of partners on the way to Africa Mobility Week in Addis Ababa.

I stayed behind briefly with Iggy (Ignacio Hennigs) to capture drone shots of the convoy as it moved along the Nairobi Expressway, stunning visuals of history in motion. Then we had to jump into an Uber to catch up, slipping into our seats to continue the journey toward Nanyuki.

Learning the Electric Drive

Driving an EV was an adventure in itself. Getting used to regenerative braking, the sensitivity of the accelerator, and the silence of the motor, it’s a whole new experience. Once you get the rhythm, it feels simple, smooth, and efficient.

But with new experiences come challenges. Coordinating a convoy with cars and two electric motorbikes required patience and planning. Speeds had to be adjusted, stops carefully coordinated. It was trial and error at first, but by the time we were heading toward Nanyuki, the flow began to settle.

Challenges on the Road

Much of the journey to Nanyuki happened in the dark, which limited the scenic moments but added to the endurance factor of the trip. On arrival, the real logistical test began: charging. Since Kenya doesn’t yet have widespread EV charging infrastructure, our partner Kenya Power support us with their substations. That meant late-night coordination, moving cars between accommodation and substations on motorbikes, juggling adapters, and experimenting with different setups.

It’s not the convenience of pulling into a petrol station and refueling in minutes. It’s running cables, learning which adapters work, and waiting hours for a charge. But that’s the reality of being early in the e-mobility journey, and I embrace these challenges. Because one day, when EVs are everywhere, we’ll look back and see how far we’ve come.

Looking Ahead

Even with the challenges, the excitement hasn’t dimmed. This journey, even though from Nairobi to Addis, it’s also about clean mobility, sustainable cross-border trade, and showing that vehicles cheaper to maintain and better for the environment can change lives.

Day one is behind us, and the road ahead is long. But every kilometer forward is a step toward proving that Africa can drive the future of mobility.

Day 2 – Nanyuki – Meru

Video Day 2

Delays, Detours, and Determination

Day 2 of the Road to Addis trip started in Nanyuki. From the Farmhouse Hotel we regrouped at the AutoExpress where we needed to get a spare tyre in case of emergency. We needed to find one.

This was complicated by the fact that Chinese vehicles have a compatibility issue when it comes to rims, this became very difficult to source. After spending nearly three hours at the local auto shop comparing rims and tyres, the team decided to leave without the rim, just the tyre.

On top of that, protests had erupted in Isiolo, where locals blocked roads due to herding-related tensions. Traffic was gridlocked, forcing the team to adjust plans. Rather than proceed through Isiolo as initially intended, the group decided to bypass it and head instead to Meru, where they would begin Day 3’s leg.

Towards Meru, the road unfolded into a scenic drive. Near Timao, the team launched the drone to capture aerial footage: sweeping landscapes, rugged terrain, and hints of what lies ahead. By evening, they arrived in Meru ready to rest, recharge, and prepare for the long stretch ahead. To regroup at 6:30am for day 3.

Through unexpected obstacles and shifting paths, Day 2 was a reminder: a road trip it’s about flexibility, local knowledge, and perseverance. Most of the challenges so far have not been electric-vehicle-related, but the usual nuances of traveling by road long distances.

Day 3 – Meru – Marsabit – Long Roads, Clear Horizons

Video Day 3

Day three of the Road to Addis trip began with an early start in Meru, as the convoy prepared for one of the most scenic stretches of the journey. The first leg, driven by Ignacio, took the team through winding roads from Meru to Isiolo. Along the way, the crew picked up a security escort that would accompany them north toward Marsabit.

Awareness Stop in Isiolo

The first official stop of the day was at Brainstar School in Isiolo, where the team hosted its first awareness campaign. Supported by local partners including the county commissioner and staff from Kenya Power, the crew introduced schoolchildren to electric vehicles. Demonstrations of the EV’s features sparked curiosity and excitement, offering a glimpse into the possibilities of clean transport for future generations.

The moment wasn’t without challenges. The Kabisa electric truck got stuck in the school’s field, forcing the team to improvise. After several attempts, Kenya Power came to the rescue with a lorry and chain, successfully pulling the truck free. Thankfully, the battery—mounted under the vehicle—remained unharmed.

Capturing the Landscape

Leaving Isiolo, the convoy pressed on toward Laisamis. The stretch between Isiolo and Laisamis, framed by Mount Ololokwe and the nearby Cat-and-Mouse rock formation, offered a chance for breathtaking drone shots. These landscapes underscored the natural beauty of northern Kenya and the unique backdrop against which the electric mobility story is unfolding.

Testing EV Features

The group paused in Laisamis for lunch and an important opportunity to recharge the vehicles. On this leg, the drivers tested advanced EV features like cruise control and regenerative braking. While cruise control is rarely practical on Kenya’s busy roads, the open northern highways made it possible to experience its benefits. The regenerative braking, which recycles braking energy back into the battery, allowed for smoother driving with minimal use of brake pedals.

Arrival in Marsabit

The final stretch into Marsabit proved demanding. Darkness fell as the convoy ascended the hills, with air conditioning draining the EV batteries faster than expected. The range anxiety became real, but the team pushed through and arrived safely with around 10% battery remaining. Despite the challenge, traveling in convoy offered reassurance and camaraderie.

Reflecting on the day, the team highlighted both the learning and joy that come with pioneering electric mobility. From engaging with curious students to testing EV’s on unfamiliar roads, Day 3 was a reminder that innovation is not just about technology – it’s about people, resilience, and storytelling.

Day 4 – Marsabit to Moyale (Ethiopian border)

Video Day 4

Day four of the Road to Addis began in Marsabit, a town defined by its biting winds and rugged beauty. The team woke to chilly gusts at the Big Tusk Hotel, where the fully charged electric vehicles had been readied for the longest driving day of the journey yet.

Before leaving, the group stopped in Marsabit town to collect a package. As always, the convoy’s electric cars and bikes drew a crowd. Curious residents gathered to ask questions, many surprised to learn that under the hood was not an engine, but storage space, and the battery hidden in the floor. The buzz in town reinforced the same message witnessed throughout the route: people are interested in e-mobility, but doubt the readiness of infrastructure. The team encouraged them, stressing that this first road trip is itself part of showing what is possible, a spark for policymakers to expand charging along the corridor .

Leaving Marsabit hours later than planned, the group hit the open highway only to encounter powerful crosswinds across the flat plains. The Kabisa EV truck and Kenya Power pickup had to shield the motorbikes from being blown off the road. While the Kabisa Pickup lead the convoy as a sweeper. Despite the challenge, the scenery and photo stops offered stunning moments for drone and camera captures. Along the way, they even helped a stranded motorist with loose wheels, a reminder of the shared road experience that bound strangers together.

By late afternoon, the convoy reached Moyale, the border town into Ethiopia. Unfortunately, customs had already closed, and despite repeated calls to facilitators in Addis Ababa, the vehicles could not be cleared to charge on the Ethiopian side. Language barriers compounded the delays, leaving low-battery EVs stuck at the border overnight.

The Ministry of Transport’s liaison, Moaz, arranged accommodation in Moyale, albeit squeezed, with ten people sharing five rooms. Dinner was communal, featuring injera, shiro, and vegetable dishes, a first taste of Ethiopian culture and hospitality. But the evening closed with a sobering reality: without charging the vehicles, day five would be delayed, cutting into the timeline to reach Addis on the 11th.

Still, spirits remained high. The team knew this was part of the challenge and story, demonstrating the promise of e-mobility, and the practical hurdles of infrastructure, coordination, and cross-border logistics. Day four captured both the excitement of pioneering a new path and the resilience needed to carry it forward .

Day 5 – Moyale (Ethiopian border) to Yebello – Charging into Ethiopia

Video Day 5

Day five began in Moyale, after a restless night by the border. Ten team members had shared five small rooms as customs delays kept the convoy’s electric vehicles stranded overnight. The morning brought new hope and a breakfast of flatbread, pasta, and eggs, before returning to customs to finalize clearance. Thankfully, this time, the process went smoothly .

Once cleared, the team faced another challenge, since none of the vehicles had charged overnight. We needed to drive 8 kilometers into Ethiopia, where the Ethiopian Electric Utility Company had prepared a charging site since the day before. There, the vehicles plugged in, some on slow chargers, the Kabisa truck and pickup alternated on a single fast charger, while the Kenya Power EV relied on a slower setup due to a malfunctioning system since Meru. The crew settled in for a long day of waiting, watching the day slowly pass by as the batteries filled.

By 7 p.m., all vehicles were finally charged with just enough to reach the next destination, Yabelo, roughly 200 kilometers away, marking our first full night drive in Ethiopia. Paul led the route in the Kabisa pickup, the headlights cutting through the still night as the group experienced Ethiopian roads for the first time. As the Kenyan side, the tarmac in that stretch in Ethiopia was smooth, wide, and relatively quiet, as the night went on, we became the only souls on the road.

A key checkpoint loomed ahead, the Yabelo customs gate, which closed at 8 p.m. With help from the Addis coordination team, the convoy managed to cross just in time, avoiding another border-style delay. The drive continued peacefully toward Yabelo, with a sense of relief and accomplishment growing as the kilometers rolled by.

Late into the night, the convoy arrived at Borana University, where local teams from Ethiopia Electricity Utility had stayed up waiting to facilitate charging. The vehicles were plugged in once again, marking the end of a long but successful transition deeper into Ethiopia.

Day 6 – Yebello to Dila – Into the Highlands: Roads, Rain, and the Rhythm of Ethiopia

Day 6 began in Yebello, where the team regrouped after a late arrival the night before. Spirits were high, boosted by a simple breakfast and the excitement of pushing deeper into Ethiopia toward Dila. As the convoy rolled out, the journey quickly became a moving frame of Ethiopia’s visual richness, brightly dressed communities lining the roadside, beautifully-decorated huts, layered hills fading into mist, and the constant movement of life on the highway.

The road demanded attention: goats, cattle, motorbike riders, and sudden stops became part of the rhythm of the drive. The beauty of the landscape contrasted with the unpredictability of the journey. Bola Hora welcomed us with a choreographed traffic of people, three-wheelers and trucks, the skyline was punctuated by the minarate of a beautiful mosque. As altitude shifted, so did the weather. Rain set in, forcing the team to pause for visibility, especially for the motorbike riders traveling with us.

One of the unique realities of the Ethiopian journey came into focus: each region functions like a mini-state, with its own checkpoint and customs-style control. Though pre-clearance from the Ethiopian government allowed the team to pass smoothly, the repeated stops highlighted how administrative borders can shape movement as much as physical ones. In a future where electric mobility connects cities across countries, harmonized policies will matter as much as charging stations.

As the journey progressed, children waved, people pointed at the foreign plates, and curiosity turned into conversation, especially with the Rwanda number plate and a Kenyan film crew. In Dila, the EEU (Ethiopian Electric Untility) was waiting for us, ready to assist with the charging next to the main square of the city.

We ended the day with a meal and our first early bedtime of the Ethiopian journey.

Day 7 Cruising the Highlands – Dilla to Adama

Video day 7

Day 7 began with the team leaving Dilla after successfully charging the vehicles overnight at EEU distribution box next to our hotel. As the convoy set off, the rising population density and expanding landscape signaled a shift, as every kilometer forward brought us closer to Addis, and closer to the heart of Ethiopia’s electric mobility transition.

Driving the Highlands: Where Torque Meets Terrain

The terrain opened up into vast rolling hills and wide valleys, a mix of gentle slopes and sudden climbs. The instant torque of the electric pickup transformed the journey. Climbing no longer meant strain, it became smooth and silent acceleration redefining road experience.

Throughout the route, drone stops captured sweeping shots of Ethiopia’s dramatic topography. The road was alive with human activity. People hanged out at the tarmac edge, markets spilled into the lanes, children waved, and donkey carts moved alongside EVs, creating a powerful visual contrast of traditional mobility alongside new possibility.

Hawassa: A Glimpse of Ethiopia’s EV Readiness

Hawassa served as a key charging stop. The regional EEU director personally welcomed us, having arranged charging at the back of their HQ. What could have been a technical stop became a cultural exchange over lunch, featuring shiro, injera, fresh fish from the lake, and raw goat meat, a local delicacy that surprised many of us.

For the first time, the team observed multiple BYD Dolphin EVs gliding through the city, marking a clear difference from the rural segments of the journey. Electric mobility became more visible, active, and accepted as we drove closer to our destination.

Shashamene, Escorts, and Ethiopia’s Expressway Vision

After charging, the convoy continued toward Adama, passing through Shashamene, a busy urban hub teeming with three-wheelers and mule-drawn carts, a truly hybrid mobility ecosystem. Navigating this human-centered traffic required patience, awareness, and sensitivity. Before reaching Adama, an Ethiopian police escort joined the convoy, clearing the way and signaling official recognition of the Road to Addis mission.

The day reached a visual and symbolic peak as the team entered the Adama Expressway, a 90 km stretch of modern infrastructure. Wide, disciplined, and built for future flows of transport, it hinted at Ethiopia’s ambition to shape mobility.

Ending the Day with Charge, Reflection, and Anticipation

The vehicles were plugged in at the Adama Bus Depot, marking the end of a significant travel segment.

Road to Addis Day 8 – Adama to Addis Ababa

Video day 8

Day 8 began in Adama, with a sense of anticipation that could be felt across the entire Road to Addis team. This was it, the final stretch. After more than 1,600 kilometers, the convoy was preparing to enter Addis Ababa, as witnesses to a new chapter in East Africa’s mobility story.

A Symbolic Gathering at Adama Wind Farm

Before departure, the team gathered at the Adama Wind Farm, climbing up a rough, rocky road that quickly coated the freshly cleaned EVs in dust once again.

There, beneath towering wind turbines, the convoy assembled for a historic photo moment. Local partners, officials, and media joined in, along with vehicles from Addis, including two Tesla Model Y units from the Hyatt Regency fleet, a sight that energized the group.

From Convoy to Movement

Once everyone had arrived, including a delegation of 20 vehicles led by the Ethiopian State Minister for Transport, the convoy reformed and began its final approach toward Addis. Driving onto the Adama–Addis Expressway, a wide, smooth stretch of modern infrastructure, the electric vehicles accelerated with ease, gliding almost silently toward the city skyline. From behind the wheel, Addis Ababa appeared.

Arrival and Recognition

Upon arrival in Addis, our partners Eazy Power PLC and Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa officially inaugurated the newly installed fast chargers, As a part of the official press conference and reception helt at the renowned Hyatt Fendika. There, partners and guests gathered to reflect on what the trip represented.