Time For Bullet-Proof Cars in Kenya?
I was reading this story in the Daily Nation about the spate of murders that have been taking place in and around the 
city. Most victims appeared to have been shot while driving home either late at night or very early in the morning.
So, I was thinking to myself as I read this article, that maybe it’s time for certain people in Kenya to seriously consider buying bullet-proof cars.
I recall reading once that the country with the highest number of bullet-proof cars was Nigeria, but I’m sure other countries with high crime rates would also have a significant number of these cars — countries like Mexico and South Africa come to mind.
I don’t know much about these security issues, so I’d like to hear from people who might be more familiar with this topic. e.g. How effective would a bullet-proof car be? Would they work in Nairobi? etc, etc.
** Then of course, South Africa also has those flamethrower cars that will spit out a ball of fire if you try to steal it from it’s owner. You can see a video of one of these cars below.
I mean if you have money in Kenya, instead of buying 4 luxury cars, you’d probably be better off using that extra money to buy one bullet-proof car.
Ke
A bullet proof car is NOT the answer.Almost all these are assasinations. If you got a bullet proof car the assasins will find another way of geting you
The ROOT cause of this CRIMES is BUT Coruption & CRIMES
Corruption
90% of those assasinated stole some money with OTHERs and then went a head to short change em…Hence the ASSASINATIONs….
Its just crooks/thieves sorting each other.
Some innocents get slain though (a few)
Ke
Forget the causes of crimes and so on… you can actually make a killing if you got a deal to sell some BULLET-PROOF cars……..
Why dont you just stop doodling on this SITE and make some real money before I DO? It was your idea any way
KE,
Bullet poof won’t do jack!! I have a relative that was killed in these types of shady cicumstances a few ago.
All I can say is that , at that time and during the whole process, I discovered that it’s easy , infact very easy to put out a hit on someone in kenya and get away with it.
I actually believe that all the people, or at least most of the people in kenya who are in jail are too poor to bribe their way out of crimes
So, why do bullet-proof cars exist?
In the story above, one of the guys was shot while he was driving. He then made the mistake (at least I think it was a mistake) of getting out of his car and that’s when they finished him off.
In a case like this, had this guy had a bullet-proof car, he would have (in the very least) been able to drive to a police station or at least stayed in the car until the gangsters run out of bullets (Although I’d like to know if bullet-proof cars can sustain an endless amount of bullets).
I suppose then I should add that you need both a bullet-proof car and a gun.
I’ve thought about this idea for a long long time. To use a gory example, much like it takes more than one drug to keep AIDS in check, if one can afford it, a bullet-proof car is not the solution to solving crime in Kenya. It is one of several stop-gap solutions an individual can take to keep themselves safe.
Reagan was shot as he was walking to his bullet-proof limousine. That did not make his limousine not worth it. In fact, Obama’s is even more armoured – more than any other president’s limo in the history of the US.
It’s one way to protect yourself in this rough, unpredictable world and it would be a good thing to have in Kenya. Add flame throwers to it as well.
My suggestion for bullet-proof cars was not as a way to stop crime in Kenya, but rather as a way for these businessmen (and others) to protect themselves from these attacks.
Even those Kikuyu’s in the rift valley who were being killed or the one’s being killed by Mungiki: at some point, you have to arm yourselves and fight back.
I don’t expect crime to go down anytime soon and at one level, I even sympathize with the police: The politicians are stealing and ruining the economy, which is leaving people desperate and angry and then, the police are expected to resolve the output of these problems, which in many ways have been created by corrupt politicians.
Kenyan thugs are no different from the bandits at sea. (Pirates)
I have a simple solution to a complex problem.
On the next budget, allocate funds to go buy car in Japan or Dubai (used cars), ship them to Kenya, distribute those cars to cities based on population & crime rate. Install cheap GPS systems and load them with explosives.
Park them in the street and even leave the keys on them. once the thugs jump in and drive, track them with GPS, once they are in a ’safe’ location (no need to kill or injure innocent people) blow the cars up.
After the 20th car, I’m sure people will be able to leave their car keys inside their vehicles while shopping at Uchumi.
Kinoo,
You are so on point.
Kenyanentrepreneur
Texas Armoring Corporation is one of the largest manufacturers of bulletproof cars in the world.We tried a few years ago to introduce bulletproof cars in Kenya in response to the crime wave and terrorist threat.The initial responses were overwhelming including one one from GMC subsidiary in Nairobi.The market exist and a well placed individual/businessman with honest contacts could succeed in this niche market (security cars).Please visit our website and see our feature on CNN.www.texasarmoring.com and get back to me with any questions you may have.Thanks