Yadea enters Kenya with KIFA partnership, targeting boda boda riders with affordable electric motorcycles
Yadea, the Chinese electric motorcycle manufacturer, launched in Kenya this week through a partnership with local distributor KIFA. Sales began immediately for their KIFA model—designed to carry passengers and cargo, last a full day on a single charge, and remain affordable for working boda boda riders rather than targeting the premium market. This comes just after Uber announced plans to double its electric boda fleet in Kenya.
Kenya had 35,000 registered electric vehicles by end-2025, nearly all motorcycles, with competitors like Spiro, Ampersand, Roam, and Arc Ride already vying for the same boda boda rider market. Yadea generated RMB 37 billion ($5.4 billion) in revenue globally in 2025 (up 31% year-on-year), but over 90% came from China—making Africa a critical growth frontier for the company. The market is real, but ownership remains undecided.
Yadea will compete directly with established e-mobility operators while sitting adjacent to ride-hailing platforms like Uber, which currently partners with firms such as Spiro and Greenwheels Africa. If Yadea gains traction, it could shift from rival to supplier/partner in Kenya’s evolving electric transport ecosystem. With sales now live, will boda boda riders adopt Yadea’s affordable KIFA model, or will existing players like Spiro and Ampersand maintain dominance in this rapidly growing market?