Stanley Barasa

40 something Kenyan engineer who loves sports in general and AFC leopards and arsenal football club in particular

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

@LTrossard Thank you Leo

[Aqua Designs @AquaDesigns2015]

@KMbappe Drop your roast @grok

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Grok is this true

[African Hub @AfricanHub_]

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 has formally severed all diplomatic relations with France with immediate effect.

The government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré accused France of showing disrespect toward Burkina Faso, pursuing neo-colonial policies, working against the nation’s interests, and backing groups blamed for destabilising the Sahel.

Burkina Faso had previously expelled the French ambassador, terminated military cooperation, and demanded the withdrawal of French troops.

The move is also expected to result in the closure of the French Embassy in Ouagadougou.

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Mobius failed partly because the government failed to support them. The number of vehicles that the government buys from assemblers like Isuzu is the reason they're thriving.

[Moses Myles✊ @Young_Pharmacie]

Mobius Motors shut down operations in Kenya(last year). Why? Because they were trying to sell new vehicles in a country hooked on cheap second hand imports. But can we really blame them?

Not entirely.

The deeper issue is structural. Kenya’s vehicle financing system is not designed to support new car ownership. Most Kenyans simply cannot afford to pay Ksh 4 million upfront or take on such a large bank commitment.

What we need is a new financing model for new vehicles.

Assume a new Mobius vehicle costs Ksh 4 million. Now project its depreciation over three years at about 30 percent, which is average for most vehicles. That means the car loses Ksh 1.2 million in value over three years. That is the amount Mobius needs to recover from the customer for the period of use, not the full price of the car.

How does that work?

Instead of selling the entire car, Mobius would require you to pay the depreciation amount. We established that at Ksh 1.2 million. Similar to banks, they would lend you that amount and earn profit through interest. If we apply a flat 12 percent annual interest rate, then over three years the customer pays Ksh 432,000 in interest. Total repayment becomes Ksh 1.632 million.

This works out to a monthly payment of about Ksh 45,000. That means if you walk into Mobius with three months of payslips and a steady income, you can drive away in a brand new car without a massive loan, without a painful down payment, and without needing to own the car in the traditional sense.

What happens after three years? Simple. You return the car. Mobius can then resell it at the guaranteed future value of about Ksh 2.8 million, which is the actual value after depreciation has already been recovered. That sits comfortably within the price range Kenyans are already paying for second hand Toyotas and Mazdas. Nothing is lost. In fact, the second hand market becomes a healthy outlet for these vehicles.

This model would divide the market into two clear segments.

First, those who prefer paying monthly for a new, low maintenance, zero mileage car without worrying about long term ownership.

Second, those who are happy to buy second hand Mobius cars at Ksh 2 to 3 million with proper service history and reliable resale value.

The benefits are significant. Mobius gains a sustainable revenue stream and a resale ecosystem. Middle class Kenyans get access to brand new cars without draining their savings. The second hand market gets better quality stock. And over time, we reduce dependence on imported vehicles that already have high mileage.

Mobius did not fail because its cars were bad. It struggled because there is no auto finance culture that supports local innovation. Until we move away from paying cash for depreciating assets and start thinking in structured, affordable, long term access, Kenya’s ambition of building a local auto industry will keep stalling.

We cannot talk about building a Silicon Savannah if we are still financing mobility like it is 1998.

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

This discussion would be more complete if we also compared the number of vehicles in the different countries. If we have more vehicles we buy more fuel and collect more taxes even if the rates were the same.

[Sen. Ledama Olekina @ledamalekina]

I know it hurts a lot, but the truth is : Fuel isn’t “free money.” Cheaper fuel means less levy revenue for roads. Kenya has 164,967 km of roads, 15.1% paved (24,868 km); Uganda has 146,000 km, 4.4% paved (6,466 km); Tanzania has 181,000 km, 8% paved (15,000 km). Kenya uses a fuel/roads levy, and cheaper fuel still means less road funding unless the gap is covered elsewhere. The choice is simple: lower taxes and cheaper fuel with slower road development, or higher levies and stronger road expansion. The opposition should stop turning every fuel conversation into cheap politics and blaming Ruto for everything.

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

For Uganda insert Kenya.

[Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3]

Walk through Kampala, Hoima, Gulu, or Mbarara and one encounters expensive vehicles, gated mansions, luxury consumption, and cash-intensive. A significant proportion of those who command money, particularly politicians and individuals connected to the state, control no meaningful means of production.

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

@StandardKenya What do you mean confess

[The Standard Digital @StandardKenya]

LIVE and EXCLUSIVE: Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo confess to KTN about what transpired while they were being detained in Uganda. Tune in to this interview now on KTN

https://t.co/ZHivyh0xME

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Why is he afraid of the people? These are the guys Africans thought were liberators.

[Mutuma Mathiu 🇰🇪 @mutuma_mathiu]

He has lots of bodyguards

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

@_AfricanUnion @ymahmoudali @AUC_PAPS Your silence on Sudan is ominous

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

I just despair why the world is not doing anything or even talking about the genocide in Sudan. Where is the AU, where is the United Nations? The western nations do not want to antagonise one of the major players who is their ally.

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

The commentator ignored her completely until she had crossed the line

[TeamKenya @OlympicsKe]

That finish? Purely Kenyan. We don’t panic, we just wait for the last minute, then we shine 😎🇰🇪🔥

Lilian Odira is proof😎

#TeamKenya
#WorldAthleticsChampionships
#worldathleticschamps
🎥 @Dollar__SM

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

@SpiceFMKE We do not use Fahrenheit in Kenya

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

This is mostly an African problem

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

@Harambee__Stars Can we finally have a distinct, recognizable jersey that everyone instantly associates with the Kenya team?

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Get well quick Kai

[Kai Havertz @kaihavertz29]

The last few days have been tough to process both physically and mentally. But yesterday was a good day. A successful op and a win 🙌🏼

Thanks for all the messages of support over the last few days, it’s really helped.

I’m now focused on my journey to full fitness and giving all the support I can give to the team in the background.

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Mobutu Sese Seko supported South Africa's liberation? 😳

[Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa]

As a country, we have a duty of support towards the nations of Africa whose solidarity and material support helped secure our liberation. South Africa will not let up in its support to the people of the DRC so that they may have the peace and security they rightfully deserve.

🔗 https://t.co/3PCHXvZB4t

#BetterAfricaBetterWorld

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Interesting @WereHenry

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Expect electricity prices to go up

[The Standard Digital @StandardKenya]

Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi confirms proposal by Adani Energy Solution to develop key transmission lines and substations in Kenya, expected to be complete between 2026 and 2027

[Stanley Barasa @stanleybarasa]

Joelinton

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

⚫️⚪️ Who was your Man of the Match?

Newcastle beat Spurs 2-1! ✨