Car Sales Rise After Uhuru's Directive

President Uhuru Kenyatta commissions local assembly of Proton Saga saloon cars on Thursday, December 10
President Uhuru Kenyatta commissions local assembly of Proton Saga saloon cars on Thursday, December 10
PSCU

Local vehicle assemblers have a reason to smile after car sales rose following a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta in their favor.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, October 13, one of the assemblers attached to Fuso Company noted that there was a notables spike since the directive was issued in 2019.

The Head of State had, at the time, directed all government ministries to acquire locally assembled cars in an attempt to promote the 'Buy Kenya Build Kenya' initiative.

He further hinted that the National Police Service (NPS) had commissioned a number of vehicles which once complete, would build confidence in Kenyans to purchase locally assembled cars.

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks to a delegation at United Nations office in New York on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks to a delegation at the United Nations office in New York on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
PSCU

"We are very happy with this initiative that we have seen introduced by the President where we want the customers to buy the products assembled here. The initiative 'Buy Kenya Build Kenya' is helping us as a branch and company at large.

"This means that customers start to appreciate the product when they see the numbers that the Government and the police are buying, they will have confidence in the product," stated the representative.

The source further added that once the sales rise, employment opportunities will also open up for Kenyans.

"When they buy these products, it means then that we are offering employment to many Kenyans," the representative added.

President Kenyatta had issued the directive in March 2019 during an event attended by French President Emmanuel Macron.

“It is part of our government’s agenda to promote the philosophy of ‘Buy Kenya Build Kenya’ among our people, government and all government entities."

"You (state agencies) are expected to buy locally assembled vehicles and spare parts manufactured in Kenya for official government use,” directed the head of state at the time.

The production of locally assembled vehicles had risen by 80 per cent in the first half of  2021 since the directive was issued.

Leaders in the sector including Isuzu East Africa, Toyota Kenya and Simba Corp reported that they had produced 4,357 units.

For the same period, the assemblers were responsible for 70 per cent of all the 6,246 vehicles that were produced.

President Uhuru Kenyatta commissions local assembly of Proton Saga saloon cars on Thursday, December 10
President Uhuru Kenyatta commissions local assembly of Proton Saga saloon cars on Thursday, December 10
PSCU