In a landmark move for Kenya’s education sector, the School of the Nations has become the first institution in the country to begin electrifying its student transport fleet.
The Nairobi-based school took delivery of its first electric bus from BasiGo this week, marking the start of an ambitious transition.
Under the new agreement, the school plans to convert its entire transport operation to electric power over the course of 2026.
The debut vehicle is a 25-seat BYD electric bus, which arrived in Kenya in 2023.
While the technology is cutting-edge, the vehicle itself has a proven track record; it has spent the last three years operating within Nairobi’s rigorous public transport network.
Following this initial delivery, the fleet is set to expand rapidly. In the coming months, 10 BasiGo Ma3E electric vans will join the primary bus to complete the school’s 11-vehicle order.
To support the rollout, BasiGo is installing dedicated charging infrastructure on the school grounds and providing the institution with access to its wider network of charging depots.
The partnership highlights a new “refurbishment programme” designed by BasiGo to lower the barrier to entry for green technology.
By restoring used public transport buses to near-new condition, the company can offer electric mobility at a significantly lower price point than new models.
Jit Bhattacharya, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of BasiGo, believes this model is the key to scaling the technology.
He stated: “Forward-looking institutions like the School of the Nations are proving that clean mobility is not just viable, but practical and scalable across new sectors. Schools in particular represent a strong and sustainable market for second-hand electric buses, enabling institutions to access clean transport solutions at a lower cost.”
For the School of the Nations, the move is as much about education as it is about logistics.
The school intends to use the fleet as a practical example of environmental stewardship for its students.
Dr Hwaock Im, the school’s Principal, noted that the investment serves both the environment and the student body.
“It provides clean, quiet transport for our learners while helping us reduce emissions,” Dr Im said. “More importantly, it allows our students to see sustainability in action, not just in textbooks, but in their daily commute. By adopting electric transport, we are showing them that the future they study is one we are actively building.”
As interest in low-emission mobility grows across East Africa, the school’s 2026 target positions it as an early adopter in a rapidly evolving transport landscape.