Trade CS Peter Munya explains tight deadline resulted to importation of BRT buses

Munya explains why BRT buses were not produced locally

Mark Mwithaga

February 11, 2019 1:22 PM

Munya clears the air over the new transport system

Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya

Trade and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya stated that a tight deadline for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses costed the local manufacturers an opportunity to produce them in the country.

Munya who spoke during a tour at the Kenya Bureau of Standards offices last week, stated that the time set to have the buses was short for local firms to produce them.

Trade CS Peter Munya during a past media briefing ece-auto-gen

"It is not about standards but time,” remarked Munya.

The comment by the CS contradicted that made by Transport CS James Macharia who noted that the firms could not meet the quality set for the BRT buses and hence opted to import the vehicles.

The Trade CS however pointed out that local companies would be given a chance to produce the second batch of buses.

“Our local manufacturers may not have met the tight deadline but we have assured them that the next set of buses will be made locally as a way of promoting manufacturing in the country,” explained the Trade CS.

The country hopes to distribute 300 buses as the roll out the BRT system is expected to be initiated once the buses have arrived in the country from South Africa.

BRT buses routes

The government had in January stated that it had acquired 64 BRT buses and 11 commuter trains which would help decongest the city.

Macharia further had explained the buses are set to arrive in February this year.