UK Protests Kenya's Move to Ban Second-hand Buses and Trucks
The United Kingdom has protested Kenya’s plan to ban the importation of second-hand passenger buses and trucks which aims at increasing safety on Kenyan roads.
Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina says the UK authorities are uncomfortable with the ban as they fear it will cut the flow of used commercial vehicles from their country.
Maina told Business Daily that the matter will be addressed by the Kenya-United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Council which is made up of ministerial representatives from both countries.
The council is tasked with ensuring a smooth implementation of the post-Brexit trade agreement signed in December 2020, allowing duty-free access of Kenyan goods to the UK market.
“The UK side has formally raised some queries on changes in regulations for used vehicles. That will become part of the discussions in the EPA Council,” Maina told the Business Daily.
“That [EPA Council route] is a fairly normal instrument for review of export numbers and experiences between the two countries.”
The ban on second-hand imports of buses and trucks was set to take effect from July 1st before it was suspended by judge Oscar Angote of the Environment and Land Court pending the determination of a petition filed by activist Okiya Omtatah.
While announcing the ban in April, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) said all used passenger minibuses, midibuses, large buses, single articulated and bi-articulated buses and double-decker buses shall not be allowed for importation into the country effective from July 1st.
The agency further stated that it will not allow the importation of second-hand rigid trucks with Gross Value Mass (GVM) equal to or greater than 3.5 tonnes and up to and including 30 tonnes.
Importers of second-hand tractor heads and prime movers not older than three years were given a grace period of up to June 30th, 2023, after which they too will be banned.
Kebs noted that the embargo does not affect small vans or microbuses with a length of up to seven meters as well as other non-commercial vehicles including saloon and SUV cars, provided they are not older than eight years.
Comments (8)
What happened to the independence that we won in 1963, from the said protesters? We can do business the way we want, not their way!! Bure kabisa.
“The way we want”? You and who?
Think again! Kenya iko na wenyewe! If the so called leaders weren’t corrupt almost 1/2 of Kenyans could afford to buy new vehicles or merchandise! We have a noticeable gap between the have and the have not!
The government needs to control the influx of used vehicles. But also allowing road worthy vehicles being imported. We don't want junks but good quality goods.
Hustlers will find ways thought.
Hustlers will survive.
Just like with used clothes, we got to have checks and balances, but corruption plays the biggest role.
When I was a little boy, Kicomi made the finest cotton. Corruption, 2nd hand clothing and a host of other problems killed that enterprise, KMC was a purveyor of fine meats but couldn't turn a profit and was almost done in by mismanagement & corruption, KCC was a great company - I remember the little tetrapaks they provided for standards 1-3 pupils in my primary school. Mismanagement and Corruption killed that & led to Brookside. Unfortunately, as Kenyans, we specialize in corruption and I see no end in sight. I see these leaders being paid off and quickly capitulating. We have a new, more efficient crook in charge.Kuvumilia is all we can do and hope for the best.
They know:
1.They have a dumping ground for wrecks.
2. There is more money in these second hand automobiles because they require PARTS, PARTS, PARTS and that drains a lot of money from Kenyans.
3. They have already calculated other "things" that will cost Kenya.
Given the number of accidents on PSV vehicles, it makes sense to have worthwhile vehicles on the road. What do you make of a matatu with parts tied together with ropes? Seriously
This CS will rescind this noble decision when she meets the colonialists. Hot air only, no balls to follow thru if history is anything to go by.
UK trucks and buses have done an average of 700,000 miles on the odometer. talk about dumping scrap to ignorant Africans.
99.9% of the road carnage in Kenya is due to driver negligence and ignorance never due to mechanical failure,not untill the govnt starts to actually work and enhance a point system drivers license and working cameras on our highways to curb speeding,this plaque on our highways and byways will never go away.....plus the economy will take a massive hit since we dont manufacture our own equipments, as the small investor cant afford newer equipment.