{"id":15351,"date":"2026-02-09T17:30:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T17:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/?p=15351"},"modified":"2026-06-15T10:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:12:44","slug":"official-launch-of-the-locally-assembled-mu-x-suv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/2026\/02\/09\/official-launch-of-the-locally-assembled-mu-x-suv\/","title":{"rendered":"Official Launch of the Locally Assembled mu-X SUV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Monday, 2nd February 2026, Isuzu East Africa launched the locally assembled ISUZU mu-X SUV at Mombasa Road plant, marking a milestone in Kenya\u2019s industrialisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, reaffirmed government support for the automotive sector through job creation, innovation, local content, and policies such as the National Automotive Policy Bill. He highlighted funding initiatives like the KES 13.1 billion Samurai Bond, the vehicle leasing programme, and urged corporates to champion local brands, citing ISUZU\u2019s partnership with Eliud Kipchoge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Principal Secretary, noted that local assembly strengthens technical skills, value addition, and employment across the automotive value chain, aligning with the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya policy. He emphasised quality, safety, and compliance, referencing standards like KS1515.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H.E. Hiroshi Matsuura, Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, praised ISUZU East Africa for creating jobs and delivering reliable vehicles, highlighting the long-term partnership and Japanese investment in Kenya\u2019s manufacturing sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rita Kavashe, Chair and Managing Director, announced that 100% of ISUZU vehicles sold in Kenya are now locally assembled, with the mu-X being the first ISUZU model assembled outside Thailand for export. She noted enabling policies have reduced prices by up to 27%, and the new mu-X production line has created 50 direct jobs supporting broader socio-economic impact. She also announced the launch of ISUZU\u2019s leasing programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junichi Kubo, President of Isuzu Motors International Operations, praised ISUZU East Africa\u2019s customer-centric approach, while Keizo Yoshimura, VP of Isuzu Motors Thailand, affirmed the mu-X meets global safety and quality standards adapted for Africa. Eliud Kipchoge, brand ambassador, highlighted the alignment of ISUZU\u2019s values with discipline, endurance, and excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch brought together shareholders, directors, partners, suppliers, dealers, financiers, and media, showcasing the collaborative effort between government, industry, and international partners in positioning Kenya as a regional automotive hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, and Keizo Yoshimura, Vice President \u2013 Engineering, Isuzu Motors Company Thailand (IMCT), unveil the commemorative plaque at the Isuzu mu-X assembly line as President, Isuzu Motors International Operations, Junichi Kubo and Rita Kavashe, Chair of the Board and Managing Director, Isuzu East Africa, looks on.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, is taken through the interior of the newly launched, locally assembled Isuzu mu-X luxury SUV by Rita Kavashe, Chair of the Board and Managing Director, Isuzu East Africa\u2014a major milestone that marks a defining step in Kenya\u2019s automotive manufacturing journey and signals Isuzu\u2019s long-term commitment to local assembly, accessible luxury, and regional industrial growth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From (L\u2013R): Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry; Rita Kavashe, Chair of the Board and Managing Director, Isuzu East Africa; Junichi Kubo, President, Isuzu Motors International Operations (IMIT); and Keizo Yoshimura, Engineering Vice President, Isuzu Motors Company Thailand (IMCT), unveil the newly locally assembled Isuzu mu-X luxury SUV\u2014an embodiment of Kenya\u2019s industrial ambition that advances the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya agenda and aligns with the regional trade and manufacturing objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry together with Isuzu EA and the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, raise a toast during the launch of the new mu-X. The locally assembled Isuzu mu-X will be available in two variants – 3L and 1.9L, offering customers greater choice and improved affordability.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Monday, 2nd February 2026, Isuzu East Africa launched the locally assembled ISUZU mu-X SUV at Mombasa Road plant, marking a milestone in Kenya\u2019s industrialisation. Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, reaffirmed government support for the automotive sector through job creation, innovation, local content, and policies such as the National […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":15353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[18,294],"class_list":["post-15351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsroom","tag-corporate-stories","tag-suv-local-assembly"],"zion_builder_status":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15351"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15355,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15351\/revisions\/15355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isuzu.co.ke\/isuzu-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}