From Wheels to Watts: CEPREC Team Visits BasiGo to Explore Opportunities for Powering a Circular Energy Future in Kenya

The CEPREC Team at Strathmore University led Dr William Murithi, a Senior faculty member at Strathmore University Business School and the country lead for CEPREC, Sheila Chepckorir, a project assistant, and Andrew Adwera, a doctoral candidate researching on the viability of Repurposed EV Batteries for Microgrid Applications in Kenya, and Brenda Kanana, SACC administrator, visited BasiGo Warehouse in Embakasi. We met representatives from BasiGo, who took us through the journey that BasiGo has taken and the bold vision to have 1,000 Electric Buses on the road. BasiGo is currently operating 60 buses in Kenya and 35 buses in Rwanda and is looking to increase this to about 170 buses by the end of the year.

What happens when electric bus batteries reach the end of the road? For the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) and electric mobility pioneer BasiGo Kenya, the answer is simple but transformative: give them a second life, powering communities through clean, decentralised energy.

To reshape how Kenya thinks about both waste and energy access, CEPREC and BasiGo are promising a collaboration aimed at repurposing end-of-life EV components for use in circular microgrid systems. The initiative marks a significant step toward aligning Kenya’s transport revolution with its renewable energy and circular economy ambitions.

Why Turn E-Waste into Energy Equity?

As Kenya’s e-mobility sector grows, so does the volume of batteries near the end of their service life. Instead of becoming an environmental burden, these components could become valuable tools in addressing energy poverty, especially in underserved or off-grid communities.

This initiative also comes at a time when the world is focusing on recycling e-waste. Globally, over 62 million tonnes of e-waste are produced, and in Kenya alone, 51,300 metric tonnes a produced in 2024. Only less than 1% were recycled or repurposed. With the increasing production and import of electric vehicles, the amount of e-waste is going to increase rapidly, which could cause challenges, particularly for countries like Kenya, with less formalised systems and regulations that will enable the nation to safeguard against rising e-waste challenges. Therefore, this calls for urgent measures that are forward-thinking and innovative in tackling this problem. Other than stopping use or overly regulating the sector, which can stifle growth and opportunities to achieve net zero, we seek ways to innovatively repurpose the electric batteries for use in stationary power storage.

Therefore, “Circularity isn’t just about reducing waste, it’s about designing systems that regenerate value,” said a CEPReC representative. “We see these batteries not as liabilities, but as opportunities.”

What Each Partner Contributes

CEPREC, an initiative of Strathmore University, is shaping Africa’s energy future through:

• Cutting-edge research on circular economy applications for renewable energy
• Policy engagement on e-waste, extended producer responsibility, and sustainability frameworks
• Capacity development through industry-academia training and collaboration

BasiGo, a lead in Kenya’s electric public transport transition, contributes:

• Real-world data from its operational electric bus fleet
• Technical insights into battery performance and lifecycle trends
• Deep industry knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in Kenya’s EV ecosystem

Focus Areas for Collaboration

Together, CEPREC and BasiGo will explore several high-impact areas:

• Research & Innovation – Joint studies on battery refurbishment and second-life microgrid integration, and development of safety and performance standards for repurposed components
• Knowledge Exchange – Circular economy training for BasiGo staff and student internships, Technical workshops, and collaborative learning platforms
• Sustainable Energy Access –  Use of retired batteries and power electronics in community microgrids, and Affordable, clean energy solutions for off-grid applications
• Policy & Advocacy – Joint development of policy briefs on e-waste and circular infrastructure, and Public-private engagement to influence national and regional frameworks

Both organisations are driven by a belief in innovation that works for people and the planet.

“This partnership allows us to put circular economy principles into action—not just as a sustainability ideal, but as an operational reality,” said a BasiGo representative. “It’s about building systems that serve today and regenerate value for tomorrow.”

Article written by William Murithi and Sheila Chepkorir