The streets of Nyali took on a sci-fi atmosphere recently as the first Tesla Cybertruck officially landed on Kenyan soil. The arrival of the futuristic, stainless-steel behemoth at City Mall left onlookers in awe, momentarily turning the coastal hub into what felt like a high-budget movie set.
The vehicle is part of a high-stakes global expedition by CyberLocos, a team of adventurers led by Berni and Alex. The duo is currently chasing a Guinness World Record by driving the Cybertruck across multiple continents. Having already traversed the United States, South America, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, the team has now designated Kenya as the gateway to their African chapter.
In a statement released on January 13, 2026, the CyberLocos team confirmed their arrival in Kenya, marking a significant milestone for electric vehicle (EV) visibility on the continent. According to the explorers, the mission is twofold: to test the Cybertruck’s endurance against diverse terrains and to challenge perceptions of clean energy.
“We want to demonstrate that clean energy is powerful enough to take you around the world,” the team stated. From the deserts of Northern Kenya to the lush highlands, the expedition aims to prove that EVs can survive—and thrive—in Africa’s most demanding environments.
Rocket Science on Roads
The Cybertruck is anything but subtle. Built from ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel—the same material used in SpaceX rockets—the vehicle is designed for extreme durability. Tesla CEO Elon Musk famously described it as “a vehicle built for any planet,” a claim put to the test as it navigated the humid, bustling traffic of Mombasa.
For the automotive enthusiasts in the crowd, the specs are as staggering as the aesthetics. The high-performance “Cyberbeast” model boasts:
- Acceleration:0–100 km/h in a blistering 2.6 seconds.
- Power:845 horsepower.
- Range:Up to 550 kilometres on a single charge.
- Utility:A towing capacity of over 4.9 tonnes and bi-directional charging, allowing the vehicle to power a home or charge another EV.
The Cost
While the technical prowess of the vehicle inspired admiration, the price tag brought many back to reality. While base models in the US market start lower, the landed cost in Kenya—factoring in shipping and the country’s tax regime—ranges between KSh 23.4 million and KSh 25 million.
For most onlookers at City Mall, the Cybertruck remained a “dream car” in the most literal sense. After snapping the mandatory selfies and admiring the “rocket-grade” finish, many returned to their daily commutes with a new appreciation for the future of transport—and perhaps a deeper reliance on the reliability of the local matatu.
As the CyberLocos team moves inland toward Nairobi and beyond, they leave behind a Mombasa crowd convinced of one thing: the future of motoring has arrived. Whether the infrastructure and wallets are ready to follow remains to be seen, but for now, the sight of a Cybertruck on Kenyan roads is a powerful symbol of a changing global landscape.
As one local observer aptly whispered while the truck silently glided away: “Mungu akijalia.” (God willing).
