12,000 used car imports arrive at port as Kebs offers waiver

Four ships ferrying 2013 secondhand vehicles have arrived at Mombasa port where they are expected to discharge upto 12,000 vehicles into the Kenyan market.

According to the Kenya Ports Authority latest manifest on arrival of ships, Dignity Ace, Freedom Ace,Hoegh Sydney and Lavender Ace will dock between January 3 to January 13.

Last Monday, Kebs opened a window allowing importation of 2013 vehicles whose shipping to Kenya was delayed by Covid-related challenges that have seen entire countries placed under lockdown disrupting business hours and logistic plans.

“Kebs has received petitions that Covid-19 pandemic might have affected some importers due to disruption of shipping schedules. Such importers should lodge documents that support their claim for consideration of a waiver," said managing director Bernard Njiraini.

Last November, Car Importers Association of Kenya (Ciak), importers and dealers applied for extension saying its members were at risk of losing 30,000 units locked out for arriving late.

Ciak urged for waiver Covid-related challenges had disrupted logistics and inspection schedules leading to delays in shipping of vehicles to Kenya, a move that creates a window to continue importing cheaper 2013 units disguised as delayed.

But car-dealers aligned to the Kenya Auto Bazaar Association(Kaba) have opposed the waiver allowing importation of 2013 vehicles after the December 31 deadline saying it is a ploy to accommodate foreign ‘business interests’.

“It is like over Sh100,000 profit for each vehicle imported by these waiver beneficiaries as they bought them at throwaway prices since Japan knew it had no market for them,” said the association.

According to the Kenya Standards of Imports, only right hand drive (RHD) motor vehicles whose Year of First Registration is from 1st January 2014 and later shall be allowed into the country effective from 1st January 2021.