Three Cars Worth Ksh142 Million Spotted in Nairobi [PHOTOS]

A file image of Mercedes Maybach S600
A file image of Mercedes Maybach S600
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Photos of three luxury cars worth at least Ksh142 million have been doing the rounds across various social media pages, with netizens in awe of the fuel-guzzling beasts.

"I cannot get it. That is Ksh44m on the road in this pandemic," one Twitter user asked in response to the photo of one of the cars - a Mercedes-Maybach S600.

In 2019, the prices of used luxury cars were significantly adjusted after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) proposed new base rates for charging duties on motor vehicle imports. 

This also meant the tax charged on such vehicles rose considerably.

Here's a look at the three cars that have been turning heads in Nairobi.

Mercedes Maybach S600 pictured in Nairobi.
Mercedes Maybach S600 pictured in Nairobi.
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Maybach S600 

If an alternate universe exists in which a Ksh50 million sedan counts as a bargain, then the Mercedes-Maybach S600 sits at its center.

You wouldn't know it sitting in the hyper-luxurious Maybach's huge back seat, or if you're lucky enough to chauffeur others from behind its wood-rimmed two-spoke steering wheel. 

The crimson maroon Maybach spotted in a busy Nairobi street caused a frenzy, as it had customized number plates - which added another million to the price tag.

Bentley Bentayga

The coming of the British luxury car underlines Kenyans’ increased spending power on expensive luxury items of personal enjoyment.

This gentle beast price range is about Ksh47.3 million, which could go much higher if the owner decided to go all out in terms of the add-ons.

A Bentley Bentayga pictured at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
A Bentley Bentayga pictured at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
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For an additional cost, one can add wooden cabinets to hold watches and jewels, have a gun safe, cigar humidor, or bullet-proof the Bentayga. Bentley also has lambswool floor mats that will have you enjoy barefoot on every journey.

Needless to say, the one that was spotted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), also had customized number plates.

Rolls Royce Ghost Ksh45m (duty not paid)

A quick check on the price of the 2015 version of this luxurious car in Kenya showed you'd need Ksh45 million before going on to figure out the relevant duty costs.

Also branded with customized plates, the Ghost was pictured in traffic next to a matatu stage along a street in Nairobi.

Rolls-Royce is widely recognized as a coachbuilder of ultra-luxurious rides for ultrawealthy folks, and its entry-level model, the Ghost, only bolsters that reputation.

Ksh45 million gets you a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V12 engine, a vast body with acres of space, and some of the most opulent furnishings ever fitted inside a car. 

A Rolls Royce Ghost pictured in Nairobi.
A Rolls Royce Ghost pictured in Nairobi.
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If the Ghost isn’t quite the last word in luxury, it’s certainly in the last sentence.

Other high-end cars spotted on Kenyan roads include: Lamborghini Murcielago,  ESV Escalade, Aston Martin DB12.

Data from the Kenya Motor Vehicle Industry Association (KMI) shows that Mercedes and BMW drove the rise in orders for high-end cars to 79 units in the review period (January - June 2020), compared to 69 units in 2019.

The growth of demand for luxury cars was larger than that of the entire vehicle market that saw orders fall 26.4 percent to 4,628 units from 6,294 units.

Notably, new vehicle registrations dipped 33 percent to 52,999 in the nine months to September from 79,078 during a similar period in 2019r, data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows.

But the cost of imported second-hand cars jumped by up to 12 percent or Ksh 500,000 per unit between October - December 2020, propped up by the weakening of the shilling to historic lows against the dollar.

Imported cars at the port of Mombasa await clearance.
Imported cars at the port of Mombasa await clearance.
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