Laikipia County's locally developed 'BJ-50' vehicle, showcased at Kirinyaga County's Devolution Conference, became a target of online ridicule after its specifications and design were shared on social media.
The car, described by Governor Ndiritu Muriithi as a seven-seater capable of reaching 70 km/h, was marketed at Sh450,000. The county reported 26 pre-orders from unnamed 'influential personalities.'
Users on Twitter compared the vehicle to street vendor trolleys, with one Kenyan writing, "Hizo zinakaa kama trolley ya smokie na mayai boilo" (These look like boiled eggs and sausages trolleys). Another user mocked the design, suggesting the governor should travel home in the vehicle as punishment for "bringing Kenya international shame."
Comments highlighted concerns about the car's engineering, with some questioning its practicality and sustainability. A group called Friends of Laikipia apologized for the "joke of the year" vehicle, acknowledging it failed to meet devolution goals.
The controversy followed a separate social media backlash against Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's lion statue, which critics called poorly sculpted and embarrassing for the city.
