Wabenzi

The name given to Kenyans who drive (or are driven in) Mercedes Benzes.

Writing recently for The New Statesman, Tristan McConnell asked:

Are the days numbered for Kenya’s wabenzi, the Big Men who cruise the potholed roads, cushioned from the bone-shaking bumps by the smooth suspension of their favourite car, the Mercedes Benz?

There are plenty of legitimate African business people who love the Mercedes. But the real wabenzi – a Swahili word meaning “the Benz people” – are the ones who have their sleek cars paid for by the government. In fact, they are the government.

However, as McConnell reported, “the writing may be on the wall” for thewabenzi. In June 2009, the Kenyan government’s “austerity budget” promised cost-cutting measures which mandated that all official cars with engines larger than 1,800cc be withdrawn by September 30. But on September 28, The Kenya Daily Nation indicated that the government’swabenzi would enjoy the use of their Benzes for one month longer, due to delays in the delivery of replacement cars. The paper also revealed:

Recently, [Kenya's Finance Minister] told Parliament that only 24 out of 42 ministries had submitted their vehicle inventories as requested by [the] Treasury. He hinted then that the deadline might be moved to beyond November due to complicated procurement rules.