Powerhive President Abbas Gassem at the AfriFueling Expo 2026 in Nairobi, where the company is showcasing its solar energy and e-mobility solutions.
By Gladys Karuga
Powerhive is expanding its solar energy and electric mobility solutions in Kenya as demand for reliable and alternative sources of energy continues to rise.
Speaking in an interview during the AfriFueling Expo 2026 in Nairobi, Powerhive President Abbas Gassem said the company is focused on providing businesses and households with alternative energy sources, particularly solar power, while also expanding its e-mobility operations.
“We’re looking to provide businesses and households with alternative energy source, solar. Solar energy these days provides great benefits for Kenya,” Gassem said.
Powerhive has been operating in Kenya since 2014, initially providing solar panels and energy to households in Western Kenya before expanding into other areas of the energy sector.
Gassem said the company has also been involved in e-mobility in recent years, providing electric motorcycles and developing a battery-swapping network to support riders.
Under the battery-swapping model, riders can exchange depleted batteries at designated stations and continue with their journeys and business activities without having to wait for batteries to recharge.
The company is an energy-first e-mobility company developing and operating solar generation across East Africa, alongside an open battery-swap network for electric mobility operators.
Powerhive has spent more than five years deploying electric vehicles across rural and urban markets, while its solar operations include commercial sites and solar mini-grids.
Gassem said Powerhive holds an electricity licence and is seeking to use its position in the energy sector to expand access to alternative power solutions.
He said the growing population and rising energy demand from households and businesses make reliable energy an increasingly important part of everyday life.
“As population, as demand increases more and more for countries, whether it’s business or household, energy is a critical part for daily lives. And that’s what we’re doing,” Gassem said.
He also pointed to developments in Kenya’s oil sector, including the opening of the oil refinery in Lamu, saying increased energy infrastructure could help strengthen the country’s energy security and benefit the wider East African region.
“I think Africa needs energy. And I think by opening this, we’ll obviously make Kenya and wider East Africa more independent from external energy shocks,” Gassem said.
Gassem said Powerhive’s participation at the AfriFueling Expo was aimed at showcasing its energy and mobility solutions while engaging with stakeholders on opportunities within the sector.
The AfriFueling Expo 2026 is bringing together players in the energy, fuel and mobility sectors to showcase technologies and discuss developments shaping the future of Africa’s energy industry.
