How Kenya's Motor Dealers Shared 2015 Q1 Vehicle Market.

General Motors East Africa (GMEA) expanded its market share to a new
high of 30 per cent in the first quarter, amid flat sales in the overall new vehicle market.

This was driven by significant market share losses by its top rivals
including Toyota Kenya and DT Dobie.

Total sales in the industry stood at 4,301 units in the period compared
to 4,287 a year earlier, according to statistics from the Kenya Motor
Industry Association (KMI).

GMEA was, however, one of the few motor dealers that grew sales,
boosting its market share to 30 per cent from 23 per cent in the same
quarter last year. The dealer of Isuzu and Chevrolet brands sold 1,297 units in the period compared to 970 units a year earlier, making it the largest dealer.

Toyota’s market share fell to 24 per cent from 34 per cent, reflecting its
drop in sales from 1,459 units to 1,042 units. The dealer’s stronger performance last year was helped by a contract to supply the police service with 1,100 vehicles. Toyota had also gained from high sales of its Hino brand of buses recently introduced in the Kenyan market.

Simba Corporation, which sells Mitsubishi trucks and BMW cars, also
saw its market share drop from 17 per cent to 15 per cent.

DT Dobie’s loss of its Nissan franchise to rival Crown Motors saw its
market share decline to three per cent from eight per cent. The dealer which sells Mercedes cars and trucks is betting on its recent acquisition of the Greatwall and Volkswagen dealerships to grow sales in the coming years.

CMC Holdings joined GMEA in growing its market share to nine per cent from eight per cent, riding on the popularity of its Ford pick-ups. The dealer managed to grow its market share despite losing the Volkswagen franchise to DT Dobie.

The market share losses by majority of the top dealers saw the combined share of small firms including Tata Africa and PorschenCentre Nairobi rise to 19 per cent from 10 per cent.

Motor dealers said they expect the industry’s full-year sales to reach
19,000 units —which will be a record high and will beat the previous
peak of 17,499 units last year.

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Source: Business Daily

Three Killed in Emali Accident.

3 people died on the spot at Sara area along Emali-Loitoktok highway last evening in a tragic road accident.

The accident involved a probox vehicle and a mini-bus operated by desert runner transport company that collided with the probox head on killing the three instantly.

The heavy rains and flooding hampered rescue efforts after the accident making it difficult for good samaritans to access the wreckage on time.

Area police have cautioned drivers to drive carefully in the area owing to the risk caused by heavy rains resulting in flash floods.

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Source: Citizen News

Costs Of Used Cars Set to Rise in New Emission Control Measures

Energy sector regulator, the ERC is set to bring into effect new motor vehicle carbon emission rules that could see the cost of popular used imported cars increase significantly beginning July.

The new levy comes in the form of carbon emission fees the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) plans to charge on imported vehicles that emit fumes beyond a yet-to-be
determined level.

Buyers of eco-friendly cars would be offered rebates.

The ERC’s feebates (fee/rebates) plan will require owners of cars with carbon emissions in excess of the benchmark to pay a fee on top of the purchase price. Those whose emissions are below the benchmark would get a rebate depending on
how far the emissions fall below the set limit.

“We are in talks with the Treasury and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) to bring the regulations into effect in July,” said Peter
Kaigwara, the ERC’s senior manager in charge of environmental health and safety.

Mr Kaigwara said that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) had agreed to widen its inspection of vehicles to include carbon emissions.

The agency will be required to establish testing centres where motorists can take their vehicles and know their emission levels. Part of the plan is to help Kenya map and check its carbon footprint at a time when
rising affluence is getting ever more cars on Kenyan roads.

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Source: Business Daily

Tata Kenya Opens New Dealership in Nakuru

Tata Africa Holdings has opened a new dealership in Nakuru that will exclusively sell agricultural equipment manufactured by Chicago-based firm John Deere.

Tata Kenya, a subsidiary of India’s Tata International, says the new dealership is targeting farmers in the South Rift region.

Demand for agricultural equipment like tractors is mainly driven by farmers, the private sector, national and county government.

John Deere manufactures plows, tractors, fertiliser spreaders, self-propelled sprayers and combine harvesters among several other highly specialised farming equipment.

Tata Kenya has held the dealership rights for John Deere equipment since 2012.

The demand for farming equipment has seen automotive firms like Toyota Kenya venture into the business, with last year’s launch of the Yanmar and Case tractor brands.
Other firms in the tractor business include CMC Motors which sells the New Holland and Bobcat brands and FMD East Africa which deals in the Massey Ferguson brands.

Source: Business Daily

Kenya's Most Dangerous Roads for Pedestrians.

The road safety agency has mapped five major roads where pedestrian deaths are common.

These are Nairobi’s North Airport Road, Mombasa Road, Thika Road, Waiyaki Way and the Eastern Bypass.

“The major cause of these accidents is speed and inadequate pedestrian facilities,” said Mr Meja, urging private companies to support the agency to reverse the road accidents trend.

Speaking at the launch of road safety report, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore challenged both individuals and organisations to work together in ensuring road safety.

He said his company had hired traffic
marshals and installed barriers and a bus stop on Waiyaki Way to curb road accidents.

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Source: Nairobi News.

Pedestrians Who Survive Road Accidents May be Charged with Attempted Suicide.

Pedestrians who survive road accidents risk being charged with attempted suicide.

Speaking in Nairobi during the release of data on road safety, Traffic Police Commandant Charlton Murithi said it is necessary to put in place stiffer penalties to address road carnage.

This comes in the wake of revelations by the National Transport and Safety Authority that the number of people killed in road accidents this year has increased compared with last year.

Between January and April this year, 804 people were killed in road accidents compared to 734 people during the same period in 2014, said head of the safety authority Francis
Meja.

He said 344 of those killed were pedestrians who could have survived had they followed traffic rules.

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Source: Nairobi news

No Entry for Upcountry Buses into City Centre!

Public transport vehicles plying up-country routes will be barred from the Central Business District (CBD) in yet another city decongestion plan.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has given a committee headed by County Transport Executive Mohamed Abdullahi 30 days to come up with a relocation plan for bus termini located within the CBD.

“We will need to sit with all of them
(upcountry operators) within the 30 days to come up with a viable relocation plan,” Mr Abdullahi said.

The buses will have to relocate to alternative sites outside the city with Mr Abdullahi saying that within the period they will be looking at potential termination points.

The plan to bar upcountry PSVs from entering the CBD was introduced in 2009 by the City Hall but flopped after it was strongly resisted by the operators.

There are three main roads through which upcountry traffic gets to the CBD—Waiyaki Way, Mombasa Road and Thika Road— meaning that the county government will have to come up with at least three major termini.

Source: Nairobi News

Opening of Southern Bypass Postponed

The opening of the Southern bypass was scheduled to be opened today have been postponed to Sunday due to failure to meet the deadline as  grading works have been hampered by bad weather and is only 80 per cent complete.

Heavy commercial trucks will from Sunday not be allowed to use Mombasa Road - Uhuru Highway - Waiyaki Way stretch and will instead divert to the Southern bypass providing a huge relief for city motorists.

Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has announced that the Southern bypass, which was closed last weekend to allow for accelerated grading of an unfinished section, would be opened
then.

It is estimated that the heavy commercial trucks and other traffic not destined for the city centre accounts for 30 per cent of the traffic on this highway stretch.

Source: Business Daily

''No Bus Deal With Foton'' Says Kidero.

Nairobi governor Evans Kidero appeared to trash a Sh4.6 billion deal that he signed last year with Chinese carmaker Foton for supply of high-capacity buses.
In a statement, Mr Kidero maintained that the deal he signed with the Chinese firm did not have any legal effect.

“The document in question, the Strategic Framework Agreement for Nairobi Public Transportation Improvement Programme remains that, a framework. It creates no legal
obligations on either party and no money was committed by the Nairobi county government, nor was it ever contemplated that any money would be committed,” he said, adding that any specific agreements would have been subjected to procurement rules.

The EACC is investigating claims that Mr Kidero presided over a deal where county officials may have side stepped public procurement rules to hand-pick Foton for City decongestion project.

Last year, City Hall said the MoU with Foton would pave the way for the supply of the first 266 buses for the planned metro transportation system, attracting protests from local motor vehicle assemblers who felt they were unfairly locked out.

The investment was to be the first phase of 2,000 buses that Foton was expected to deliver in five years.

Foton initially said it had not decided whether to assemble the buses locally or import ready-made units from China.

Source: Business Daily

April 2015: Petrol Prices Fall as Diesel Rises

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Tuesday marginally cut petrol prices but raised that of diesel and kerosene for the second month in a row.

In Nairobi, the price of a litre of petrol fell by Sh0.11 to Sh89.35 while diesel cost has gone up by Sh1.28 to sh77.48 per litre. Kerosene has gone up sh1.46 to Sh57.21 per litre.

The ERC said the average cost of imported super petrol dropped 1.46 per cent in March. Compared to the previous month and that of diesel went up 1.91 per cent while kerosene’s rose by 3.59 per cent – explaining the petrol price drop and increases in that of diesel and kerosene.

Kidero Reopens Bunyala and Lusaka Roundabouts

The government has re-opened Nairobi's Bunyala and Lusaka roundabouts in an effort to curb the traffic menace experienced in the last few days.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Governor Evans Kidero said the move was a short-term solution as the county awaits the opening of the Southern Bypass on Friday.

Dr Kidero said all trailers are expected to start using the bypass from next week to ease traffic on Mombasa Road.

Motorists using the road have been spending more hours on traffic jams during peak hours, a situation that has made a number of public service vehicles increase their fares by 50 per
cent. Kidero said the government had
allocated Sh25 million for the road's
completion.

Source: Standard Media

DT Dobie Takes Over Sale of Chinese PickUp Trucks.

Motor vehicle dealer DT Dobie has taken over the distributorship of  Chinese pick-up trucks from the Great Wall brand from its affiliate firm CICA Motors.

Great Wall pick-ups will now be sold and serviced at DT Dobie through its showrooms on Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu. The distributor will have two-wheel single and double cabs options on offer.

The Chinese firm Great Wall made its entry into the Kenya market through local distributor, CICA Motors, in 2012.

DT Dobie and CICA are both subsidiaries of CFAO Group,which also owns Toyota Kenya, following a Sh274.4 billion buyout deal by the parent company.

According to DT Dobie, the single cabin pick-up will be retailing for Sh1.89 million while the double cabin pick-up will be retailing for Sh2.35 million.

Source: Business Daily

Church Vehicle Kills Two Students in Moyale Accident.

Two high school students died Sunday while 10 people were seriously injured after an Aglican Church of Kenya vehicle they were travelling from a wedding party in overturned at Huka Adhi on the Marsabit-Moyale road.

One of the passengers died on arrival at the hospital while the second victim, who had multiple injuries, died at Merille while being rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for specialised treatment.

Marsabit County Hospital superintendent Dr John Mwanzia said six
survivors of the accident were admitted to the hospital with minor
fractures and tissue injuries but were in stable condition.

Source: Daily Nation

Nissan Kenya Dealer Fires CEO over Low Sales Volumes.

Crown Motors, the new Nissan dealer in Kenya, has fired its CEO Chris
Angell over what the board termed as failure to meet set targets.
Mr Angell, a former DT Dobie executive who joined Crown in August
last year , left the company two weeks ago.

“We had a vision for the company in terms of sales and market share. After six months, those targets had not been met. We mutually agreed to part ways (with Mr Angell),” Solomon Osundwa, a director of Crown told the Business Daily in an interview.

According to Mr.Osundwa,the firm has already started searching for a new CEO to steer the company which took over the Nissan franchise from DT Dobie last year.

“We are looking for an experienced person with a good knowledge of the Kenyan automotive business,” Mr Zubedi said.

The Crown directors did not say the exact unit sales the new company is targeting. Sales of Nissan pick-ups, vans and cars last peaked at 1,140 units in 2013 under DT Dobie, according to statistics from the Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMI).

The transition from DT Dobie to Crown was however bound to hurt Nissan sales which more than halved to 564 units last year, most of which were clearance sales by the former franchise holder.

Mr Angell’s stint at Crown is one of the shortest in the competitive new vehicle market. He had helped set up the company, including overseeing investments in a showroom and service centres in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Source: Business Daily

Sunday Special: Kenya's Iconic Vehicles( Isuzu 'Di' and the Bedford Trucks)

Old is gold, they say and today I juggle your memory a little with Photos of what is most Probably Kenya's Most Iconic Trucks: The Isuzu 'Di' and the Bedford.

Southern Bypass to be Opened Next Week to Reduce Nairobi Traffic

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and Nairobi county govt have announced that the southern bypass which was set to be opened in November will be opened Friday next week.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and the Ministry of transport have moved to address the nightmare of daylong traffic jams in the city. Vehicles using Mombasa road and  weighing more than eight tonnes will not be allowed into the city beyond Ole Sereni Hotel between 5am and 10pm and will be required to use the bypass.

The bypass project launched in 2012 involves construction of a 28.6km dual carriageway with 12km slip roads and an extra 8.5km service roads. It starts from the junction of Mombasa Road interchange and ends on the Kabete-Limuru Road in Kikuyu town.

Motorists will enter the bypass from the Nairobi-Mombasa highway near Park Side Towers and run on the edge of the Nairobi National Park, Langata South Estate, Ngong Road, Dagoretti, Gitara and Thogoto in Kiambu County where it will then join the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

Construction of the 28.6km Nairobi Southern Bypass was initially set to be completed in July at a cost of Sh17.1 billion and is 85 per cent funded by China’s EXIM Bank with the Kenyan government catering for the remaining 15 per cent.

Price of Imported Used Cars Set to Rise under Proposed Changes.

Second-hand vehicle importers in Kenya could soon be restricted from importing vehicles more than five years old as the government moves to improve on fuel efficiency and cut down carbon emissions.

This is one of the recommendations of a study by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the University of Nairobi commissioned by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The study looked at the prospect of promoting cleaner and more fuel-
efficient vehicles in order to reduce localised air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and national fuel bills.

"The vehicle population in the country has been increasing at between 10 and 12 per cent each year since 2003 and as of 2012 we had 2.02 million vehicles on our roads," Energy and Petroleum Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge said.

This growth rate, he stated, is far higher than the rate of development of the road network, with the bulk of this traffic concentrated in the cities.

According to UNEP, Kenya's bulk of carbon emissions originates from the transport sector with most of the adverse effects recorded in urban centres. "The transport fleet in Kenya is composed, up to 90 per cent, of second-hand imported vehicles and we have an opportunity to make these more fuel-efficient and cleaner because if they use less fuel they
emit less," said UNEP's Head of Transport Unit Rob de Jong.

Lowering the age limit to five years would mean Kenyans would have
to dig deeper into their pockets to import vehicles as newer units are
more expensive than older units.

Source: Standard Media

DT Dobie 2015 Apprenticeship Program Open

DT Dobie, the Franchise holder for some of the World's leading automakers among them Mercedes Benz, Jeep, and Volkswagen has announced applications to the 3-Year Apprenticeship course in Motor Vehicle Mechatronics for services and Parts for 2015 intake.

The program offers a wealth of knowledge and training to people who go through the program and focuses on young people below 22years of age.

The application closes on 15th May, 2015.

Check out the poster for more Details.

#SpotAScaniaChallenge Winners Awarded.

The #SpotAScaniaChallenge sponsored by Scania East Africa Ltd that have been running for almost a month now came to a close today with the awarding of the Winners with scania Mechardise.

The Competition involved spotting a Scania truck or bus on the road and then posting the photo on our their facebook wall. The photo with the most likes was to win the Scania merchandise.

The winners for the Challenge were Buda Boss, Moses Profet, Moresays Wachira, Brian Kabz, Sir-njay Dan Njoroge and Dennis Nyaanga.

Here's some photos of the awarding of the winners at the Scania Headquarters in Industrial Area, Nairobi.

Senator Mike Sonko to Lead Nairobians in Removing Roundabout Barriers

Nairobi, Kenya: Nairobi senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko now wants the closure of several roundabouts in the city rescinded.
Sonko has warned that unless the county government reviews the new traffic routes, he will mobilise city residents to remove the barriers erected on the affected roads.

The senator, accuses Governor Evans Kidero and ministry of infrastructure and roads of the national government for hurriedly implementing the changes without involving the public in accordance to the law.

"These changes have worsened the traffic situation in Nairobi and I am calling on the governor and the ministry to rescind the closure of the roundabouts, " he said.

Sonko says Nairobi traffic mess can not be addressed on short term basis and instead wants overpasses built in place of roundabouts. "If they don't open the roads affected, we will mobilise residents and they will wake up one day and find traffic flowing freely," the senator cautioned.

Sonko says that just like many motorists, he has also been hit with the traffic jam staying in traffic for over three hours on a road he normally spend less that 30 minutes.

Source: Standard Media

Bus Companies Linked to Al-Shabaab Stripped of Insurance Cover.

Insurance for four bus companies associated with entities suspected of
funding terrorism has been terminated. The Companies include G-Coach, E-Coach, City to City Bus Company and Sabrin Buses.

This follows the government’s naming on Wednesday of 86 entities, including individuals, accused of aiding terror attacks in Kenya. The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) said the conduct of insurance business is subject to anti-money laundering and counter terrorism laws.

Insurance companies were ordered to terminate covers for the 86 individuals and institutions cited for facilitating terror attacks. “Your attention is drawn to ... Regulation 11(3) of Prevention of Terrorism (Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Suppression of Terrorism) Regulations 2013, which requires reporting institutions to take appropriate action by amongst others, freezing until further notice, the property or funds of designated persons,” said IRA chief executive Sammy Makove.

The government ordered the 86 entities to cease business until investigations are conducted and they are cleared of abetting or facilitating terrorism.

“For bus companies, this means that they cease to operate as they cannot be on the road without valid insurance covers,” said the regulator. This exposes the transport firms to the risks they had taken cover
for.

Source: Nation Media

Four Bus Companies Among Companies Associated With Al Shabaab

Following the government directive to freeze the Accounts and Assets of 85 Companies and Individuals associated with Al shabaab, Four Bus Companies mainly operating in the North Eastern Region of Kenya have been mentioned.

The Bus Companies whose Assets and Accounts have been freezed and gazetted as Associates of the Al Shaabab include:
1. Sabrin Bus Services Ltd.
2. G-Coach
3. E-Coach Company Ltd.
4. City to City Services Ltd

East Africa's Rising Car Imports.

Authorities in Nairobi, Kampala, and Kigali are caught in a race to expand key road infrastructure following an upsurge in vehicle traffic.

The traffic woes around East African capital cities reflect the high number of vehicles cleared at the Port of Mombasa which has grown sharply over the years, piling pressure on governments in the region
to expand existing infrastructure facilities.

A total of 157,856 motor vehicles were discharged in 2014 compared to
136,915 units cleared the previous year, an increase of 20,941, statistics by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) showed.

In 2012, 120,268 units were cleared at the Mombasa port, which also serves landlocked countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South
Sudan.
Tanzania does most of its importations through the Dar es Saalam port.

Projections showed that the number of cars getting into the East Africa
region is expected to grow progressively.The growing number of vehicles getting into the region and using the roads has put pressure on the existing infrastructure, necessitating the expansion of road networks in major cities.

The expansion of roads will ensure the number of vehicles getting into
the region will not cram the existing roads, which were previously designed to accommodate fewer units.

Kenya Roads Urban Authority (Kura), which is charged with the mandate of managing, developing and maintaining all public roads in cities and towns in the country, has been instrumental in ensuring that the road network is expanded too.

Read More: Business Daily

Bunyala, Nyayo Stadium and Westlands roundabout closed,

The Nairobi County government gas over the Easter weekend proceeded to implement a proposal aimed at reducing traffic jam in the city. The weekend saw several roundabouts barricaded and right turn blocked. This has been replaced by signalled intersections. Read More...

We take a wait and see approach to see the effectiveness of the move.

Taita-Taveta County Minister for Transport dies in a Road Accident.

A sombre mood engulfed Taita Taveta county following the death of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Executive Engineer Joseph Mbogho in a grisly road accident on Friday night.

Police said Mbogho died on the spot in the 10am accident involving his personal vehicle and a canter lorry,  which collided in Mariwenyi along the Voi-Mwatate road killing him instantly and seriously injuring two others among them the canter's driver.

Source: Standard Media

Nakuru-Nairobi Highway Accident Leaves Four Dead.

Four people died and scores of others were left fighting for their lives following a grisly road accident along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway that involved three vehicles.

Two of the victims died on the spot while the others died while undergoing treatment after the Monday afternoon accident near Kinungi trading centre.

The accident occurred after a lorry heading to Nakuru from Naivasha
developed mechanical problems and rammed into two vehicles. The lorry that was in speed hit another personal car before rolling and
seriously injuring the driver and his conductor.

12 people were seriously injured with majority of them suffering from head injuries and fractures.

Source: Standard Media

Jaspreet Chatthe Wins the 2015 KCB Safari Rally.

Jaspreet Chatthe of TeamKibos on Sunday won one of the toughest rounds of the 2015 Kenya National Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 car.

Chatthe won with a margin of 13 seconds over Ian Duncan, the smallest ever recorded margin in the history of the Safari Rally since it was first held in 1953 as the Coronation Safari Rally.

Duncan, the Liquid Telecoms-sponsored driver, said he gave everything in the last two stages to close the gap on Chatthe, but the latter was unbeatable.

Carl Tundo, who has won the Safari Rally on four different occasions,was third in Proton S2000 car despite suffering two punctures and a faulty wiper motor.

Baldev Chager’s attempt to win the rally for the third yearrunning were thwarted after his Mitsubishi Lancer car suffered mechanical hitches on Day Two. He was placed fourth overall,

Manvir Baryan gave the Ford Fiesta its best ever result in the KNRC since its debut earlier this year by finishing fifth.

Tapio Laukkanen’s chances of winning his second consecutive round of the KNRC evaporated on Sunday after his Subaru Impreza car was forced out with broken rear trailing arm after putting up a relentless battle that saw him build a five-minute lead going into the final day.

Source: Daily Nation

National Bank Joins Matatu Cashless Payment Business.

National Bank of Kenya has unveiled a new cashless payment card as
it moves to tap into the matatu billions. The Matatu cashlite fare
collection solution dubbed ‘ Na3card ’ empowers matatu operators to
accept fare via different payment methods ranging from cash, mobile
money and card.

NBK Managing Director Munir Ahmed said the solution provides operators with the ability to monitor their fleet through route management module. While unveiling the card Mr Ahmed said the
solution will allow matatu owners collect and account for fares from commuters according to the National transport and Safety Authority
(NTSA) requirements.

He said the card’s payment application will be installed on devices
deployed in each matatu to acquire card payment transactions, record
fare collections and track the location of the device.

Source: Standard Media

New CEO Appointed to Head Stantech Motors.

Former CMC Motors executive Ken Ouko has been appointed the CEO of Stantech Motors, replacing Mr Titus Ntuchiu.

The outgoing CEO Mr Ntuchiu, who is a founding shareholder of Stantech will now remain a director in the board focussing on business development strategy.

Mr Ouko worked for years at CMC as the head of the Ford division until last year when he left alongside other executives.Mr Ouko then moved to RMA Kenya as a business development manager, joining a start-up dealer that had taken over CMC’s Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) franchise. He later left RMA and joined Stantech from eLease Kenya Ltd where he was the head of corporate business.

At Stantech, Mr Ouko will be running an auto dealer with exclusive distributorship of Chinese brands.The company sells saloon cars, pick ups, buses, trucks, tippers and prime movers under franchises like Cherry, JMC, Sinotruck, and Grand Tiger brand.

Besides selling and servicing vehicles under its franchises, Stantech also offers maintenance and repair services to customers owning vehicles sold by other manufacturers.
This non-discrimination policy has expanded its client base in terms of after-sales service where it sells parts and charges fees for fixing mechanical problems.

Source: Business Daily

Flag Off PHOTOS of KCB Safari Rally 2015

Here's a photo coverage of Day 1 KCB Rally flag off at the KICC.

Safari Rally Legend, Ian Duncan Unveils New Car.

Rally legend Ian Duncan yesterday unveiled a new car, a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer EVOX, ahead of tomorrow’s KCB Safari Rally.
This will see the six-time former national champion run in the ongoing
2015 Kenya National Rally Championship with Liquid Petroleum as his
title sponsors.

What’s more, yesterday’s launch saw the rallying legend, who won the
Safari Rally in 1994, when it counted towards the World Rally Championship, switch from the Nissan Patrol and pick-up that saw
him exit the season-opening Kisumu Rally.

“It looks really good, but then there is a lot of ‘Kenyanisation’ that
needs to be done to the car, things like suspensions, sump-guard and
cooling all need to be sorted. But we are quite excited that this is the
next step from the EVO9 which we have run for four years,” said
Duncan.

“We hope we can get a good result out of the new car. It’s the first
rally so we expect a few teething problems, but hopefully we can get
them sorted. The Safari Rally is a long event so I think it’s going to be
a lot more of an endurance event,” he added.

The KCB Safari, which has reverted to its former identity that once
elicited immense excitement among followers over Easter weekend,
will be flagged off at KICC tomorrow and will be covering some mind-boggling mileage in an event that will traverse five counties including Nairobi, Kiambu, Laikipia, Meru and Machakos.

Source: Standard Media

Jeremy Clarkson joins Guardian Media Energy Campaign.

The disgraced former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has become the latest celebrity to support the Guardian’s campaign for fossil fuel divestment. The Former Top Gear presenter says being sacked by the BBC was a ‘wake-up call’ and  joined a host of celebrities backing climate change campaign

Following what he described as a “dark night of the soul”, Clarkson said he hoped to “regain the trust of the British public” by dedicating his time and financial resources to sustainable energy, road safety and forging mutual understanding and tolerance between people of different cultures and religions.

The 54-year-old said that the “fracas” last month, in which he punched a producer on the patio of a North Yorkshire hotel, had prompted him to “re-evaluate his priorities” and reflect deeply on his life, behaviour and carbon footprint.

“Top Gear was a wild ride for an ordinary bloke like me,” said Clarkson, “But there comes a time when a man’s got to ask himself what he really stands for. And for me, that’s sustainable energy, traffic calming and an end to xenophobia and prejudice.”

Source: The Guardian

Nyeri Road Accident Leaves Driver Dead and Three Injured.

A lorry driver died on Wednesday in a road accident that occurred near Wambugu farm along the Nyeri-Karatina road.

Three other people among them a lecturer at Kagumo Teachers College and two passengers were injured in the afternoon accident that involved the lorry, a private car, a matatu, and two donkeys that were pulling cart.

According to a witness, the lorry which was headed to Karatina from Nyeri Town lost control, hitting the two other vehicles and then the two donkeys.

Nyeri traffic police commander Mr Reuben Bett confirmed that the driver of the lorry died while three others sustained injuriesand were admitted to the Nyeri County Referral Hospital.

Source: Nation Media

Down The Memory Lane: Nyayo Pioneer Car.

Today, I go into the archives and I bring to you the memories of a Nyayo Era when Kenya's dream of a home made car was ripe. And hence came the Nyayo Pioneer Car.

In 1986 President Moi asked University of Nairobi students to manufacture a car, “however ugly or slow”. It promised to be a project that would showcase Kenya’s self-sufficiency and heavy industry potential.

The request was reminiscent of German Chancellor Adolf Hitler asking
Ferdinand Porsche in 1933 to make a car for the people – a move that
led to the creation of the Volkswagen Beetle. Strongmen clearly have a
thing for cars.

Moi’s project brought together engineers from Kenya Railways, Kenya
Polytechnic, the military and Nairobi University. Parts were produced in military bases or at the Kenya Railway central workshops. After four years of banging and clanging – and a quarter of a billion shillings of
public funds – the Nyayo Pioneer car was ready for public display. It even came in five different prototypes, including a five-door sedan, a sport coupe, a pickup and a rally version.

The car had a 1200cc engine and was to have a top speed of 120kph.
The cars were launched with much pomp and glamour at the Kasarani
Sports Complex. The President even took a short drive in one of the vehicles. The televised launch was a comedy of sorts, though, as only two of the five prototypes could actually move – and even then they couldn’t make it around the 400m track. The President had got his wish: the car was both ugly and slow.

The Nyayo Pioneer was an engineering disaster. The headlights,bumpers and boot did not come together neatly, and the car lacked the finesse you would expect from a consumer product. The components were made by hand in different factories. The car’s manufacture was done mainly at night as it was a state secret – and you got the feeling that a lot of the welding and panel beating was by hand in bad light. The car’s body was heavy and the engine simply could not cope with the burden.

Also, despite the goal of self-sufficiency, only 60 per cent of the car was built from locally-available material.

Not discouraged by what was clearly a massive failure, the government
decided to go ahead with the mass production of this largely stationary car. They formed the Nyayo Motor Corporation (NMC). The government did not have enough money to push the project all the way through. The total outlay for mass production required was Ksh7.8 billion. However, Lack of finances led the car project to be put on the blocks permanently.
The Nyayo Motor Corporation was dissolved and its assets taken over
by another company which bears its initials: the Numerical Machining
Complex.

Recently, NMC announced that it would set aside Ksh775 million to revive the Nyayo car project.Meaning Kenya may yet be reviving a dinosaur for our eco-friendly age and we could eventually see the Nyayo car breaking down on a highway near you.

Source: Kenya Yetu/

The Car you Drive and What it Says About You.

What does your car say about you?

A person’s choice of automobile speaks volumes about their personality. You are what you drive. The car you spin provides a sneak peek into your aspirations. It defines you perhaps even more than your hairstyle or wardrobe.
Here’s our tongue-in-cheek stab at stereotyping the owners of some of the vehicles seen on our roads.

Subaru Imprezza: The hallmark of youthful exuberance. Notorious for its
noise and speed, thus preferred by guys who believe that velocity
equals virility. Has “quickie” written all over it.

Toyota Vitz : It says you just got a job. Preferred by single women who
wear independence on their sleeves and take Oprah a little too literally.
Would not say red if they could say scarlet.

Probox : Says practical, average and enjoys being part of the crowd.
Considers fuel economy the car’s strongest point.

BMW : Says aspiring middle class card-holding member in need of
validation. The kind that races between traffic lights and complains
about the lack of autobahns in Kenya.

Toyota Hilux double cabin : Reads a man who dreams about an outdoor
life on a farm but couldn’t pitch a tent to save his life.

Range Rover : Battling midlife crisis and eager to prove that life really
does start at 40; maintaining image is key. It is a bitch to park but all
the stares compensate for the inconvenience.

Land Rover/ Land Cruiser:  Ragged older man; young at heart who chalks the discovery of some nondescript bar in the middle of nowhere, serving cold beer as a worthy bragging point.

Mercedes Benz: An unapologetic collector of status symbols. Likely to
make a fuss if the bar doesn’t stock his brand of single malt whisky.

Noah / Voxy:  Happily married, keeps an eight-to-five job and helps the
kids with their homework. Owes his/her success to divine
intervention.

Mobius II: The Made-In-Kenya Car!

Remember the Nyayo Pioneer car? The Vehicle that could not complete its maiden trip during its launch? The aborted 'Made in Kenya' car dream!
Today, its no longer a dream but a reality.
Meet Kenya's own vehicle: Mobius Motors II.

The Company
Mobius Motors designs, manufactures and sells highly durable, highly affordable vehicles in Kenya for Africa's mass market. Mobius is reimagining the car; designing their vehicles around common road terrain, transport usage and consumer income profiles across the region. They are not just building vehicles more suited to local demand, but transport platforms that empower local entrepreneurs to run profitable transportation businesses with Mobius vehicles to end-users in their
communities.

MOBIUS TWO
Mobius Two was first announced as a form of inexpensive, go-anywhere transport for Africa with a local price of 950,000 Kenyan shillings. This  makes the Mobius II about one-third the cost of a new subcompact like a Toyota Corolla and about the same price as a ten-year-old Corolla .

Mobius II has been engineered as a highly rugged, versatile and reliable vehicle ideally suited to the degraded roads common across much of rural Africa. The company has already received pre-orders for the Mobius II vehicles and will begin the concept development of its next-generation vehicle, Mobius III, scheduled for production launch in 2016.

So what is in the SUV?
Buyers will get an eight-seater, zero-frills - no air conditioning or windows – machine , powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with 86 horsepower and 94 pound-feet of torque.
The tubular-framed SUV has a top speed of about 75 miles per hour , weighs 2,805 pounds, has nine inches of ground clearance and can carry 1,375 pounds worth of cargo.

Mobius Motors in its preparations to launch their first production vehicle
in Kenya got finances with a convertible debt led by Richard Parsons and Ronald Lauder's Pan-African Investment Company.
The investment helped Mobius II, launch into the market and establish its brand as a high quality carmaker building vehicles specifically designed for Africa's mass market.

Source: Auto Blog

Range Rover Injures Five in Westlands Accident.

Five people are fighting for their lives in various Nairobi hospitals after a vehicle veered off the road and hit them in Westlands on Saturday evening.

According to witnesses, the vehicle, A Range Rover lost control and veered off the road around the Sankara hotel in Westlands injuring pedestrians on the sidewalk,

The vehicle’s driver, who is held in custody at Parklands police station, said that the vehicle developed mechanical problem shortly before the accident.

“It started moving very fast and the brakes failed. I lost control and hit the pedestrians and three other cars that were parked along the road,” he said yesterday

Full story: Here