Laikipia County trolled for inventing this Ksh.450K ‘tuk-tuk’

Laikipia County government showcased a very interesting innovation during the just concluded sixth annual Devolution Conference in Kirinyaga that has now caught the attention of Kenyans.

In a video posted on their Facebook page on Wednesday, the Laikipia County Government displayed an invention they call the BJ-50; which is, basically, a four-wheel tuk-tuk.

According to an article dated July 5, 2018 on the Laikipia County Government website, the brains behind the four-wheeler received orders for at least 26 units from “influential personalities” since it’s manufacture.

Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, speaking during a Trade Panel on Thursday, said the ‘tuk-tuk’ can carry at least seven people and, according to sources, goes for about Ksh.450, 000.

Despite being a notable innovation, images of the BJ-50 have now found their way to social media and Kenyans — as expected — are having a field day with it.

The ever-wild Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) — besides making memes of the vehicle — have, especially, rubbished the price-tag on it terming it “ridiculous.”

Some Twitter users have even jokingly opined that the invention looks like the drawings of cars by children at kindergarten level or trolleys used by egg and sausage vendors.

Below are some of the responses from KOT:

Made In Kenya cars, BJ-50. They costs only KShs450,000 ($4,505.42) each. pic.twitter.com/W8VVogyHt1

— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) March 7, 2019

My daughter will sue the Laikipia County Government

They stole her drawing! pic.twitter.com/B4iK1wBSdZ

— Abu Sakeena (@FauzKhalid) March 7, 2019

It is time Counties started adopting symbols of innovation in their counties. We thank Nairobi and Laikipia for showing the way. @KTNKenya @citizentvkenya @ntvkenya pic.twitter.com/gZjv4X1hZL

— Omar Bond (@AstronautKE) March 7, 2019

Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi should be forced to travel back home from Kirinyaga in his “smokie trollies” as a punishment for bringing Kenya international shame. pic.twitter.com/OcHGSovLse

— Lé Presidenté (@AtGuru001) March 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/Mukami_Mungai/status/1103555637861060608

https://twitter.com/OnguruMeister/status/1103674494177169408

Friends I'm extremely sorry for displaying our 'joke of the year' toy car. Although the 'innovator' did alot of work to have this big toy, we know it is not scaleable, sustainable and absolutely not a devolution product @CisNyakundi @SenatorEric @AfricaFactsZone @MarthaKarua pic.twitter.com/xUz6uGP75F

— FRIENDS OF LAIKIPIA (FOL) (@FolFriends) March 7, 2019