Kenyan engineering students Caroline Mutheu and Esther Leja have won the EV Explorers Rhino Charge 2026 Innovation Challenge in Kenya to secure tuition support and industry placements.

Organisers said the winners study at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and will receive support aimed at building electric mobility skills.

KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said the scholarships would support Kenya’s labour needs in the green economy.

At the awards ceremony Njonjo said: “At KCB Foundation, we are helping shape the workforce required for Kenya’s green transition.”

“Scholarships like these are an important tool for connecting education to applied learning, industry exposure and pathways into employment,” Njonjo said.

According to the press release, each winner will receive a partial scholarship covering up to 75 per cent of their remaining tuition fees.

The package includes a three-month paid internship at Silent Savannah and attendance at the 2027 Rhino Charge as technical observers alongside the EV Explorers crew.

The innovation challenge formed part of Rhino Charge 2026, Kenya’s off-road motorsport fundraiser for conservation.

Organisers said the e-mobility component tested electric technology beyond typical urban use cases and connected students to applied engineering problems in demanding terrain.

The initiative matters to Kenya’s business sector because it connects corporate foundations and motorsport platforms to technical skills for the emerging e-mobility industry.

The release linked the competition to Kenya’s National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and an emerging e-mobility policy framework covering infrastructure, investment and skills development.

It said sector growth increased demand for skills in electrical engineering, battery systems, vehicle design, electronics, energy management and charging infrastructure.

EV Explorers team leader Richard Kiplagat is also a Partner at Africa Practice.

Kiplagat said the programme was designed to translate real-world engineering experience into training opportunities.

“Our mission with EV Explorers is to demonstrate that African engineering can deliver world-class e-mobility solutions in even the most extreme conditions,” Kiplagat said.

He said bringing the winners into the programme would help transfer data and experience to the students.

He said they were “talented young Kenyan women who will help shape the future of sustainable transport.”

The release presented EV Explorers’ participation in the Rhino Charge as a practical test case for off-grid electric mobility.

It said the team participated in the 37th Rhino Charge at Ngilai in Samburu County in May 2026.

According to the release, the team’s vehicle became the first electric vehicle to complete the event.

The vehicle was “designed, fabricated and assembled in Kenya” according to the release.

It completed the course using a 62-kWh battery system supported by an off-grid solar charging solution.

EV Explorers Innovation Challenge Lead Andrew Waititu said the students’ internship would involve hands-on work using vehicle performance data.

“Developing vehicles capable of operating in rough, off-grid terrain requires specialized knowledge of battery thermal management, structural durability and solar integration,” Waititu said.

He said the scholars would use “performance telemetry datasets” during their placement at Silent Savannah.

The work would support chassis, wiring and energy improvements for the team’s 2027 entry.

Organisers also said Rhino Charge served a conservation financing role beyond its mobility activities.

The press release said the 2026 event raised Ksh365 million for conservation of Kenya’s mountain ecosystems.

It said Rhino Charge had raised more than Ksh2.6 billion since its inception.

The release also attributed the construction of about 650 kilometres of electric fencing to Rhino Ark.

It said the fencing aimed to protect forest ecosystems and reduce human-wildlife conflict affecting more than 80,000 households.

The initiative’s focus on battery, power electronics and charging skills could support Kenya’s local assembly and maintenance businesses.

Organisers said Mutheu and Leja were expected to attend as technical observers as EV Explorers prepared its next entry.

The 2027 Rhino Charge is scheduled for 29 May 2027.

KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on skills development and enterprise support aimed at Kenya’s automotive and emerging electric mobility (e-mobility) sector.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will support the training of 200 young people—100 drawn from KCB Foundation and 100 from CFAO Mobility Kenya—through technical and vocational programmes at the Toyota Kenya Academy starting in January 2027, according to a statement on the signing. The programme is intended to link technical training with entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion and market access to improve employment and enterprise outcomes.

The partnership will deliver technical and automotive training, including specialised e-mobility programmes, while also supporting youth- and women-owned enterprises operating in the mobility value chain through business incubation, mentorship and financial literacy, the statement said.

The initiative comes as Kenya’s mobility ecosystem expands across conventional automotive services, motorcycle-dependent logistics and transport, and early-stage electrification efforts. Skills gaps—particularly in diagnostics, maintenance, and new drivetrain technologies—have been cited by industry players as a constraint on the sector’s ability to scale, while access to capital and predictable demand remains a key challenge for small businesses and informal operators.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said the partnership is structured to respond to shifts in labour market demand. “The future of work is changing rapidly, and partnerships such as this enable us to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to market needs,” Njonjo said. “By combining technical training with entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, access to finance and market linkages, we are creating a pathway for young people and women to build sustainable businesses and secure meaningful employment within the mobility sector.”

Beyond training, the statement indicated that qualifying entrepreneurs will be considered for tailored asset financing solutions covering vehicles, motorcycles and equipment. Participants may also get opportunities to connect with Toyota and CFAO’s supply chain ecosystem, subject to procurement and compliance requirements.

CFAO Kenya Managing Director Akira Wada said the focus is on aligning training with industry requirements as the sector changes. “As the mobility sector continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to prepare young people with the technical competencies required for the future,” Wada said. “Through this partnership, we are investing in talent development, supporting innovation in e-mobility and creating stronger connections between training, industry and employment.”

For Kenya’s labour market, the agreement highlights a growing role for private-sector-led training partnerships that tie classroom instruction to specific industry pathways. If implemented as outlined, the combination of training, enterprise incubation and financing could help formalise segments of the mobility value chain—especially among youth and women-led businesses—while building a workforce prepared for both conventional automotive work and new e-mobility technologies.

The first cohort is scheduled to begin training at the Toyota Kenya Academy in January 2027. The partners did not disclose the programme budget or the selection criteria for trainees and financing, but said the support would be delivered through technical training, entrepreneurship development and linkages to markets and supply chains.

KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on skills development and enterprise support for young people in Kenya’s automotive and emerging e-mobility segment.

The agreement, signed on July 21, 2026 at CFAO offices on Lusaka Road in Nairobi, will support training for 200 young people—100 each from KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya—through technical and vocational programmes at the Toyota Kenya Academy beginning in January 2027, according to a statement issued by the partners.

The initiative will combine technical training with entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion initiatives and market access opportunities, as the organisations seek to link skills development with employment and enterprise creation in the mobility sector.

The partnership comes as Kenya’s transport and logistics ecosystem expands and the country records rising interest in electric mobility solutions, including electric motorcycles and vehicles, which are creating demand for new technical skills across maintenance, diagnostics and fleet operations. For lenders and corporate players, the shift has also opened opportunities to structure financing products and supply-chain linkages for small businesses servicing mobility value chains.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said the partnership is intended to align training with changing labour market needs. “The future of work is changing rapidly, and partnerships such as this enable us to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to market needs,” Njonjo said. She added: “By combining technical training with entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, access to finance and market linkages, we are creating a pathway for young people and women to build sustainable businesses and secure meaningful employment within the mobility sector.”

Under the MoU, the organisations said they will jointly deliver technical and automotive training, including specialised programmes in electric mobility. They also plan to support youth- and women-owned enterprises operating within the mobility value chain through business incubation, mentorship and financial literacy programmes.

The partners said qualifying entrepreneurs will be considered for tailored asset financing solutions for vehicles, motorcycles and equipment. They will also have opportunities to connect with Toyota and CFAO’s supply chain ecosystem, “subject to applicable procurement and compliance requirements,” the statement said.

CFAO Kenya Managing Director Akira Wada said the collaboration targets talent development and stronger industry linkages. “As the mobility sector continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to prepare young people with the technical competencies required for the future,” Wada said. “Through this partnership, we are investing in talent development, supporting innovation in e-mobility and creating stronger connections between training, industry and employment.”

For Kenya’s labour market, the programme signals a growing role for private-sector-led training pipelines that connect technical academies with industry. If implemented as outlined, the collaboration could expand the pool of technicians and entrepreneurs able to participate in automotive services and the e-mobility ecosystem, while also increasing demand for structured financing products tied to productive assets such as motorcycles, vehicles and workshop equipment.

The next milestone is the start of training at the Toyota Kenya Academy in January 2027. The partners have not disclosed the financial value of the programme, selection criteria, or how the participants will be distributed across courses, but said the programme will focus on employability and enterprise development within Kenya’s mobility sector.

KCB Foundation has partnered with Hivos, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Somo and United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) to launch the European Union-funded “Tujenge Pamoja” initiative aimed at accelerating Kenya’s transition to a circular green economy.

The programme was launched in Nairobi and will be implemented under the EU SWITCH Africa Green Programme, according to a statement from the partners. It seeks to shift enterprises away from the linear “take–make–dispose” model toward circular approaches anchored on repair, reuse, recycling and resource efficiency.

Under the initiative, the partners said the programme will support 3,200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt sustainable and commercially viable circular business models. It also aims to strengthen 40 Business Support Organizations (BSOs) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to serve as innovation and enterprise development hubs across the country.

The launch comes as Kenya continues to face rising waste management and climate pressures, while MSMEs remain central to employment and economic activity. Circular economy programmes are increasingly being positioned by development partners and private sector institutions as a way to reduce waste while opening new opportunities in recycling, green manufacturing and sustainable services.

Mendi Njonjo, Director at KCB Foundation, said the programme is intended to strengthen MSMEs through financing and skills. “This programme is about economic resilience, dignity and opportunity for millions of Kenyans whose livelihoods depend on MSMEs. By empowering small businesses with green financing, innovation, and skills, we are building enterprises that can compete, create jobs, and drive Kenya’s transition to a more inclusive and circular economy,” Njonjo said during the Nairobi launch.

Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya, said the shift could unlock economic opportunities alongside environmental gains. “The transition to a circular economy is not only an environmental imperative, but also a major economic opportunity for Kenya. Through ‘Tujenge Pamoja’, we are strengthening innovation, supporting MSMEs, creating green jobs, and promoting inclusive growth that leaves no one behind,” Geiger said.

According to the partners, the programme also aims to create green jobs—particularly for women and youth—reduce waste streams and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve access to green financing through catalytic funding mechanisms to help enterprises scale environmentally responsible solutions. The initiative includes a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) focus that prioritises women-led, youth-led and marginalised enterprises.

Key value chains targeted include plastics and packaging, organic waste management through composting and biogas solutions, and sustainable textiles, the statement said.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the initiative signals continued momentum in linking MSME support to climate and resource-efficiency outcomes, with potential downstream effects across waste management, manufacturing inputs and consumer goods. By strengthening business support organisations and TVET institutions, the programme could also influence workforce skills and the availability of advisory services for firms shifting to circular models.

The partners said the initiative aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, and SDG 13 on climate action. Next steps will include rolling out enterprise support and capacity-building activities through participating organisations and training institutions.