The Kenya Bureau of Standards currently banned the importation of second-hand vehicles which are used. Among the banned vehicles are mini-buses, double-deckers, and large buses into the country.
This is planned to take effect from first July , the gorvement made this move in effort to protect and promote local assemblers. KEBS, however stated that used passenger micro-buses of up to seven metres length will continue to be imported in the country under the county’s eight-year rule.
Passenger vehicles are important as they help avoid traffic jams, when people share same vehicle. In a statement, Isuzu East Africa MD Rita said that they welcomed the move by the gorvement and that they have capacity to meet the local demand having produced more than 5300 vehicles over the last year.
She also stated that the move will help create employment for Kenyans who will work in the sector. In a recent report carried out by Kenya National Bureau Of Statistics(KNBS) indicated that Kenyans imported over 78,000 vehicles in 2021, which was 21% increase from 2020, this attributed to the high cost of brand new cars in the local and international market.
