Kenya stops importing vehicles, declares stern action against officials for importing

The regional imports in Kenya have outshined exports in what can be attributed to the production of similar products on the continent that raises competition with Kenya’s products. Now the government of Kenya is increasing the list of locally available materials that will no longer be imported in future.

The list is said to be ready and will soon be shared to the public. According to Peter Munya, Cabinet Secretary Trade and Industrialization, the technical committee of Permanent Secretaries is working on an in-depth report to guide the implementation of the government’s Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative.

Peter Munya made the announcement a month after the government of Kenya declared to take stern action against State officials who will import vehicles that are locally assembled. “We have not been biased in selection of the products, the technical committee, and the PS retreated to conclude on the list and the white paper that will say in local content trading these are the commodities and the list will continue to increase as we do more research on other products that can be made locally,” he commented, as reported by Capital FM.

This move is in line, according to Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, with Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive made early 2019, requiring ministries and other state agencies to buy locally assembled vehicles.

“We have a mechanism where if you are a manufacturer and you find a government institution that has imported a vehicle locally assembled, you report to us and disciplinary action will actually be taken,” Karanja Kibicho cited.

Majority of the motorcycles in the streets in Kenya include Yamaha and Honda including Indian Bajaj brands like Boxer and low -cost Chinese vehicles. The government expects this step will enable the graduates to be employed.

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