Used EV Imports Get Green Light in Kenya, Subject to Battery Recycling Rules

Kenya will welcome used electric vehicles from abroad, but on strict terms. The National Environment Management Authority says imported cars must pass quality checks at the border. Importers must also show how they will handle worn-out batteries.

The stance was laid out at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye. Dr Anne Omambia spoke on behalf of NEMA Director General Dr Mamo B. Mamo. She addressed a side event organised by UNEP and Naspers-Prosus. NEMA released the update on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

The discussion touched on several issues. Kenya's position on used EV imports was central. Vehicle quality standards, environmental safeguards, and regulators' responsibilities were also examined.

NEMA cited the Sustainable Waste Management (Extended Producer Responsibility) Regulations, 2024. Under the rules, battery producers and importers must register with the authority. They must also join an approved Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.

The regulations leave no doubt about accountability. Firms that place batteries on the local market must handle them when they reach the end of their life. "Whoever puts a battery on the Kenyan market is responsible for its end-of-life," the Director General stressed.

Electric mobility is growing fast in Kenya. That growth will generate spent batteries that need safe disposal. Without proper systems, the waste risks piling up.

Kenya still has major gaps in infrastructure. Facilities to collect, transport, reuse, and recycle lithium-ion batteries are scarce. Charging networks remain thin on the ground. Reliable local data on battery health, mileage, and vehicle history is also hard to come by.

Such gaps make it difficult to verify the condition of imported used EVs. They also make it hard to predict how long a battery will last.

NEMA says electric cars can cut lifecycle emissions by up to 70 per cent compared with petrol vehicles. However, the authority insists those benefits cannot come at the expense of waste management or consumer protection. It believes border checks and battery plans can help the used EV market support cleaner transport.