Motorcycle imports reduce in Kenya due to high purchasing and operational cost

Motorcycle imports has declined significantly in Kenya in the last two consecutive quarters mainly due to low consumption, increased shipping costs and the expansion of local assembly.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals that the number of imported motorcycles and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor in nine months fell by 77 per cent to 64.041 units from 285, 459 units in nine months in a similar period in 2022.
The decline in the imports was occasioned by increased costs on direct acquisitions, higher financing costs to purchase units, rising fuel costs and a glut of units in the market.
Kevin Mubadi, founder and national chairman of Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya, discloses that the cost of buying motorcycles in Kenya have increased remarkably in the past and that has contributed to the decline of acquisition.
He says whereas in the past the cost of a motorcycle used range between Ksh135,000 and Ksh145,000, it has shot up to Ksh200,000 which is above what consumers expect.
The chair of Boda Boda says the number of riders acquiring motorcycles is not increasing the way it used to mainly due to the high cost of the cycles.