Can Kenya really build its own automotive industry?

In this episode of Gearhaus, Kalasinga and Vanilla discuss the current state of Kenya's automotive sector, exploring local vehicle assembly, government policy, market trends, and what the future could look like for manufacturing in East Africa.

From the realities of "Made in Kenya" production to Isuzu's market dominance, the conversation explores why local assembly has struggled to reach its full potential, whether government policy can change consumer behavior, and how Chinese manufacturers and electric vehicles could change the industry over the coming years.

Some of the things to expect:

- The "Made in Kenya" Reality: Understanding the difference between CKD and SKD assembly, Kenya's production capacity, and why local plants remain largely underutilized.

- Isuzu's Winning Formula: How Isuzu East Africa captured over half of Kenya's new vehicle market through product strategy, after-sales support, innovative financing, and a deep understanding of local customer needs.

- The National Automotive Policy: A discussion on the government's proposal to gradually phase out used car imports, and whether encouraging local assembly requires incentives as much as restrictions.

- The Chinese Wave & EV Opportunity: How emerging Chinese brands are changing the commercial vehicle market, and why Kenya could position itself as a future hub for EV manufacturing in Africa.

- The KES 11 Million "Bullet": Why buying a luxury car is often hardest the first time, and how Kenya's trade-in culture helps owners move up the automotive ladder.

- The Ineos Grenadier Journey: The remarkable Nairobi-to-UK expedition and what it reveals about the capabilities and reliability of the Grenadier.

- Motorsport's New Chapter: What recent changes within Kenya's motorsport federation could mean for rallying and the future of local motorsport.

- Farewell to the W16: Reflecting on the end of Bugatti's legendary W16 engine and the close of an extraordinary engineering era.

- Our Top Locally Assembled Picks: The team's favorite vehicles built in Kenya, including the Isuzu M-UX and the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser 79.

Guest:

Robert Mwirigi: https://www.instagram.com/Mwirigi

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Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

If you've ever dreamed of owning a Defender, this might be the reality check you need.

In this episode of Gearhaus, Kalasinga and Vanilla are joined by CJ, a filmmaker and lifelong Land Rover enthusiast whose blood group is "Land Rover."

From the unmatched heritage and undeniable cool factor to the constant battle against rust, leaks, and endless repairs, CJ shares what it's really like living with one of the world's most iconic 4x4s.

Through stories from his own builds and years of ownership, we learn why so many people fall in love with Defenders despite knowing they'll never be the easiest vehicles to own.

Some of the things to expect from this episode:

- Land Rover News: Our thoughts on Ferrari's new "fake manual" transmission and Audi's shift toward China-specific vehicle designs.

- The Defender Reality: Why buying a running, driving Defender is the golden rule, and the biggest mistakes to avoid when shopping for a project.

- The Puma Engine: Why CJ prefers the 2.4 and 2.2 Puma engines, the compromises they come with, and the truth behind popular 3.2 Ford engine swaps.

- Building the Perfect Defender: A closer look at CJ's two very different builds, including a black utility-focused daily driver and an open-top beach cruiser built for Sunday adventures.

- Life With a Landie: From fitting into the cabin at 6'4", to driving without A?C, and why your right arm will always need sunscreen.

Guest:

CJ: https://www.instagram.com/athena_defender/

Follow Gearhaus on:

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Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

Is NTSA actually making our roads safer, or is the rollout creating more problems than it solves?

In this episode, Kalasinga and Vanilla are joined by a special guest (the original Gearhaus host) to unpack one of the biggest topics in Kenya's motoring scene: the new NTSA instant fine system and the upcoming mandatory private vehicle inspections.

While fair, automated traffic enforcement is something many motorists have supported for years, how it's been implemented in Kenya has raised serious concerns. From confusing 50 km/h speed limits to poor signage and unclear communication, we explore whether the system is ready for nationwide enforcement.

We discuss:

- NTSA's Love-Hate Relationship: Why removing human bias from traffic enforcement is a positive step, but poor communication and inconsistent implementation are undermining public confidence.

- The 50 km/h Debate: We examine roads like the Northern Bypass and Lang'ata Road, where missing, obstructed, or unrealistic speed limit signs leave drivers questioning whether enforcement is truly fair.

- Mandatory Vehicle Inspections: What the new KS 1515 standards could mean for private vehicle owners, including how common modifications such as lift kits, bull bars, and DPF deletes may be affected.

- Why Red-Light Cameras First Made More Sense: We discuss why focusing on dangerous intersections could have built stronger public support before introducing widespread highway speed enforcement.

- Lessons from the Michuki Era: We take a look back at how stakeholder engagement and public participation helped make past road safety reforms more successful and why that approach feels absent today.

- The Big Question: Is Nairobi's current road signage adequate for automated enforcement? And should driver re-testing come before mandatory vehicle inspections?

Guest:

Mwirigi: https://www.instagram.com/Mwirigi

Follow Gearhaus on:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/

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Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

Is Kenya a copycat nation when it comes to cars? Which vehicles are actually selling, and why is the "Kimani/Auntie" car stereotype still so common?

In this episode of Gearhaus, Kalasinga and Vanilla are joined by Anthony from Car 360 to answer these questions using real market data.

From the popularity of the Mazda Demio and Toyota Vitz to the large number of Harriers and SUVs listed by dealers, they explore the gap between the cars people search for and the ones that are actually available.

They discuss:

- Global news, including Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari win, the so-called "Kardashian Effect," Toyota's victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and why American sports cars are starting to sound better than many European models.

- The spy in your car, including why Polestar faces restrictions in the US and how inward-facing cameras are becoming more common in modern vehicles.

- Toyota RAV4 demand in the US and why dealerships struggle to keep one on the lot for more than two weeks.

- A look at Kenyan car trends as Anthony reveals the 10 most-viewed vehicles on Car 360, including where the Toyota Probox ranks.

- Resale value and reliability, and why many Kenyans still avoid Volvos and Hondas despite their strong reputations.

- How Car 360 brings car buying, selling, and vehicle verification together in one place.

Guest:

Cars 360: https://cars360.co.ke/

Follow Gearhaus on:

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Website: https://www.itsgearhaus.com/

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Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

In this second episode of our two-part series with Jeremy Mwendwa (aka El Gapo), Kalasinga and Vanilla pick up right where the heartbreak left off.

After the Masaku TT tire split and a frustrating serpentine belt failure, Jeremy reveals the impulsive, "on-the-moment" decision that led him to buy the Audi TTRS and how a matching watch and his daughter’s approval sealed the deal.

We discuss:

- The TTRS Struggle: Fixing a car isn't always straightforward. We talk about replacing turbo cores, repairing cracked manifolds, and tracking down the vacuum actuator leak that was preventing the car from making full power.

- The Build Philosophy: Instead of buying a new kit, Jeremy explains why it's better to get the most out of your current setup before upgrading the engine, transmission, and chasing 9-second quarter-mile times.

- Knowledge Is Power: Jeremy shares why mechanical skills alone aren't enough. He explains how hours spent on Audi forums and more than 30 Facebook groups helped him understand the platform and solve problems.

- GTR vs. RS7 vs. TTRS: Which offers the best driving experience? Jeremy explains why the GTR's raw, engaging feel stands out compared to the smooth, effortless performance of the RS7.

- The Future of Kenyan Racing: We discuss the growing focus on drag racing, the upcoming August events, and why better safety measures and spectator discipline are becoming increasingly important as cars get faster.

Guest:

Jeremy Mwendwa: https://www.instagram.com/elgapo700

Follow Gearhaus on:

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Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

After winning the drag races in Konza, he parked his car and only turned it on to go to Arusha, where he also won the rolling and drag races!

In this episode of Gearhaus, Kalasinga and Vanilla are joined by Jeremy Mwendwa, who is better known as El Gapo, to discuss how a simple wish to have a fast weekend car turned into a passion for being the fastest on the drag strip.

From the adrenaline of his first-ever pull in the Audi RS7 to the mechanical heartbreaks of snapped axles, Jeremy shares the full story behind his journey with the RS7, the GTR, and now the dominant TTRS.

We get into:

- Why we think the new Audi A6 Allroad might be the ultimate all-rounder (even with the mild-hybrid controversy).

- Discussing the Nio ET9’s "Sky Ride" chassis and how European manufacturers are struggling to keep pace.

- Jeremy’s experience maintaining a Discovery 4 and why 3,000km service intervals are a non-negotiable for Land Rover owners.

- Why the GTR had to go: The staggering reality of $80k billet blocks and $24k transmission upgrades when you’re chasing 1,000+ horsepower.

Guest:

Jeremy Mwendwa: https://www.instagram.com/elgapo700

Follow Gearhaus on:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhaus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/

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Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

What started as a personal project to solve his own "car headaches" has grown into a specialized business that breathes new life into vintage Mercedes-Benz, Volvos, and even Alfa Romeos.In this episode of Gearhaus, Kalasinga and Vanilla go out to meet Peter Mbiria, the mastermind behind Voltarent ECU, who is revolutionizing how we maintain and performance-tune classic vehicles.Peter’s story is one of pure innovation. Born out of the frustration of dealing with unreliable mechanical fuel systems on his own 190E, he decided to build his own standalone ECU from scratch. Now, he narrates his technical journey of moving from basic 8-bit controllers to high-performance processors capable of managing everything from fuel delivery to complex ignition timing in real-time.Watch this episode and learn how:- Peter replaces the notoriously finicky Bosch K-Jetronic "spider" systems with modern, programmable EFI.- A look at Peter’s custom firmware that uses real-time mathematical formulas instead of traditional lookup tables.- A walk-through of a converted 450 SLC and the story of the 190E that outran the competition after its digital transformation.- Peter shows off his custom 3D-printed intake adapters and a sneak peek at his experimental air suspension research.Peter is truly an incredible talent in Kenya who proves that with enough R&D, you can make a 1970s classic as reliable and fast as a modern machine.Guest:Peter Mbiria: https://www.instagram.com/petermbiriaFollow Gearhaus on:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/Spotify: WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2IGearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

What does it take for a young Kenyan to break into the world of professional motorsport?In this episode, Kalasinga and Vanilla host Amani Kinyua, one of Africa's most promising young karting talents, alongside his father, Justus Kinyua, to discuss the journey from watching Formula One on TV to competing and winning races across Africa and beyond.Amani shares how his passion for racing began, the challenges of pursuing motorsport in Kenya, and what it's like competing against some of the best young drivers on the continent. From his first experience behind the wheel to standing on podiums in South Africa and the UAE, this conversation offers a rare look into the dedication, sacrifices, and support system required to build a career in motorsport.With ambitions set on Formula One, the sky is the limit for Amani Kinyua.In this Episode:- How Amani discovered motorsport- Starting a racing career in Kenya- The role of family support in professional karting- Competing internationally in South Africa and the UAE- The challenges facing young African racing drivers- Winning races and building a reputation in motorsport- The dream of reaching Formula One- The future of motorsport in Kenya and AfricaGuest:Amani KinyuaFollow Gearhaus on:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2IGearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

Ferrari recently dropped their latest car, shocking the world, and not for the right reasons.

What happens when legendary brands stop listening to enthusiasts? Why are Mercedes and Porsche facing growing criticism? And while Europe struggles to define the future of cars, are China and America quietly taking the lead?

In this episode, Kalasinga and Vanilla are joined by Earl Karanja to discuss one of the biggest conversations currently taking place in the automotive world.

We discuss Ferrari's controversial new EV, Mercedes' changing identity, Porsche's EV challenges, the rise of Chinese manufacturers, the return of American performance vehicles, and whether traditional car brands are losing touch with the people who made them successful in the first place.

It is clear that the automotive industry is changing faster than ever, and equally obvious that not everyone is happy about it.

Guest:

Earl Karanja: https://www.instagram.com/earl.karanja/

Follow Gearhaus on:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhaus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/

WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2I

Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

We're back for another season, and we assure you, this one will be bigger than the last.

To kick off the new season, we'll start right in the deep end of absolute chaos, with Kalasinga and Vanilla discussing major project car updates and also dishing some controversial modern car takes.

After what feels like an eternity, Vanilla is finally giving us a detailed update on the Nissan Patrol M57 swap project, including:

Importing custom drivetrain parts

Suspension and cooling upgrades

Why "plug-and-play" swaps are never actually plug-and-play

Reliability vs. Power when building a serious off-road machine

Turbo choices, transmission adapters, chassis bracing & more

If you’ve ever wanted to understand what REALLY goes into building a proper project car, you'll want to listen to this.

The hosts also get into:

The Nürburgring front-wheel-drive record battle between the Civic Type R and VW Golf GTI Edition 50

Why Mercedes-AMG’s new electric direction has enthusiasts worried

The golden era of Mercedes-Benz

Modern car technology is becoming way too complicated

Why Chinese EV manufacturers are dominating the electric car space

The hidden frustrations of modern luxury cars

But we saved the best part for last... the much-awaited Gearhaus Roadtrip III is officially happening this August!

Welcome to Season 4!

Follow Gearhaus on:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhaus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/

WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2I

Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.