Kenya will not yield to the pressure of the importation of the 17 banned vehicle parts, Trade CS Peter Munya said.
The CS was speaking in Nyahururu Stadium during the Laikipia Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fair, the third edition of the country’s only innovators fair aimed at promoting local products.
Addressing a multitude of industry experts and hundreds of exhibitors with unique products, the CS noted that holding on to practices like the importation of cheap and used vehicle parts is one of the things killing innovations in the country.
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Citing an example of Charles Mangua’s locally made and patented self-charging car that was exhibited during the fair, Munya claimed that the ban would open doors for locally assembled and made automobiles.
He said that the government’s move to ban the importation of used vehicle parts was one way of creating markets for locally manufactured products.
“This is part of our manifesto in creating jobs for the youths. We want to nurture their skills so that they can be self-reliant. We have realized that they have a lot of knowledge and skills but what they lack is financial support,” Munya said.
Laikipia County Governor, Ndiritu Muriithi, who initiated the innovation fair said that the exhibitors will continue getting financial and expert support from his administration.
He urged leaders to walk the talk and “put their money where their mouth is” shortly after pledging to support farmers in buying a thousand bags of fertilizer not to mention wanting a version of Charles Mangua’s self-charging car for himself.
The CS, on the other hand, challenged the citizens to believe in themselves and support the manufacturing sector.
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He lauded Laikipia County for marking itself as a pacesetter in innovation as well as manufacturing and he pledged the Government’s commitment to promoting talent through funding and training.
The policy on the 17 banned vehicle parts that the CS was talking about was effected late May through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and is applicable to specific vehicle parts that cannot be recycled.
The banned vehicle parts include:
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