President Kikwete shakes hands with Dr Chris Kirubi. Looking on is GM East Africa MD Rita Kavashe.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 6 – Industrialist Dr Chris Kirubi has announced that he will buy an ambulance made at General Motors East Africa as a gift for Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete following his Kenya visit.
Kirubi says the present to the President will also give him an opportunity to get the feel and appreciate locally assembled vehicles and be an ambassador of promoting them in Tanzania and the whole East African region.
“Mr President, I have seen you admiring this ambulance since we got here,” Kirubi said pointing out at one parked in front of the GM office entrance “and I have decided that I will get one for you and go with it to your country.”
He made the announcement on Tuesday when President Kikwete paid a visit to the General Motors plant in Nairobi where he flagged off the first batch of locally assembled vehicles from General Motors East Africa destined for the Tanzanian market.
“All I could do sincerely from my heart is to say Mr President; have this vehicle. I will pay for it,” he said.
Kirubi, who is a top shareholder at Centum, noted the need to for the EAC to embrace local products as the region looks forward to achieve zero second hand products in the near future.
In July this year, General Motors East Africa Limited signed a dealership agreement with Quality Automotive Mechanization Limited (QAML) that will allow its two brands, Isuzu and Chevrolet to enter the Tanzanian market.
At the moment Centum owns as a 17.8 percent stake at General Motors East Africa.
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