The National Youth Service (NYS) has partnered with Uber and GreenWheels to train 342 NYS servicemen and servicewomen in e-mobility skills and connect some graduates to electric motorcycle driving opportunities, the organisations said in a joint news release dated 18 August 2026.

According to the statement, the first cohort completed a two-week E-Mobility Driver Training Program at the NYS Camp MTB in Nairobi and received certification in e-mobility-related skills. The milestone was marked at a graduation ceremony at NYS Headquarters, presided over by NYS Deputy Commandant General, Operations and Logistics, Nicholas J. Makokha, HSC.

The partners said 110 graduates from the first cohort are transitioning to become GreenWheels drivers on a lease-to-own model, with Uber supporting their onboarding onto the platform. The statement added that Uber and GreenWheels have co-funded 50% of initial onboarding costs for the inaugural class, splitting the support equally, in an effort to reduce barriers created by upfront compliance and onboarding fees.

The initiative comes as Kenya’s transport and logistics sectors increasingly test electrification, particularly in two- and three-wheeler segments where operating costs and urban pollution concerns are shaping business decisions. Electric boda deployments have also drawn interest from financiers and fleet operators exploring asset-backed models, including leasing structures that can help riders access vehicles without full upfront payments.

In the release, Imran Manji, General Manager for Uber East Africa, said the partnership is aimed at bridging the gap between training and income generation. “Young people need more than skills; they need pathways to turn those skills into meaningful economic opportunities. By working with NYS and GreenWheels, we are helping graduates move from training into practical earning opportunities while also supporting the growth of electric mobility in Kenya,” Manji said.

Makokha urged graduates to apply the newly acquired skills to support livelihoods as they leave the Service. He “congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the program and encouraged them to use the skills acquired to build sustainable livelihoods, embrace available opportunities and work towards financial independence as they exit the Service,” the statement said.

Beyond driver placement, the organisations said their collaboration has expanded to cover recruitment and placement of EV drivers; technical staffing for EV assembly, servicing, maintenance and compliance; industrial attachment and apprenticeship opportunities; EV technical training and certification; and capacity building for trainers and technical personnel.

The partners said the programme is expected to run until the end of the year, with approximately 100 NYS graduates projected to transition into GreenWheels driving opportunities every three months.

For the Kenyan market, the announcement signals a growing focus on workforce readiness for electric mobility as firms move from pilot projects to scaled operations. If the transition targets are met, the pipeline could help fleet operators address two common constraints in e-mobility rollouts: the availability of trained riders and technicians, and the affordability of onboarding and compliance costs for young entrants.

Next milestones will likely include the onboarding progress of the first 110 graduates onto Uber through GreenWheels and the cadence of subsequent cohorts as the programme approaches its year-end timeline, as outlined in the statement.