British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, has announced a $5 million investment in ARC Ride, a Nairobi-based electric mobility company. The funding is aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric motorbikes, commonly known as boda bodas, across Kenya and the broader East African region.
This strategic investment will enable ARC Ride to deploy 5,000 electric two-wheelers, significantly expanding its footprint in Kenya’s rapidly growing urban transport sector. The initiative also includes the scaling of ARC Ride’s battery-swapping infrastructure, a key component in making electric mobility more practical, efficient, and accessible for everyday users.
In Kenya, boda bodas are more than just a means of transportation—they are a lifeline for millions, providing employment, facilitating trade, and connecting communities. Electrifying this sector presents a powerful opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, lower operational costs for riders, and improve urban air quality.
Seema Dhanani, BII’s East Africa Coverage Director, emphasized the broader impact of the investment:
Boda bodas are central to daily life in Kenya. Electrifying them is vital to building a cleaner and more sustainable future. As the UK’s development finance institution, we are proud to support innovative solutions like ARC Ride that help drive meaningful change for both communities and the environment.
Joseph Hurst, CEO of ARC Ride, welcomed the partnership as a transformative step in the company’s mission to lead Africa’s electric mobility revolution:
This collaboration allows us to expand significantly while ensuring more clean kilometres are travelled. It means higher earnings for riders and less harm to the planet. We’re excited to scale our operations and bring affordable, sustainable transport to more people.
ARC Ride’s model combines electric motorbikes with a network of battery-swapping stations, allowing riders to quickly exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones—eliminating downtime and range anxiety. This system is particularly well-suited to the high-frequency, short-distance trips typical of boda boda operations.
The investment reflects a growing momentum behind clean transport solutions in Africa, as cities seek to reduce pollution, improve public health, and create green jobs. By supporting ARC Ride, BII is helping to catalyze a shift toward low-carbon urban mobility while also promoting inclusive economic development. This partnership is part of BII’s broader strategy to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and entrepreneurial innovation across emerging markets.
