Both end up in the same showroom, but they age differently, cost differently to insure and come with different paperwork. Here is how to weigh the two.
Both end up parked on the same floor, and both can be a good buy. The difference is what has already happened to the car before you see it.
A fresh import has usually spent its life on smoother roads and in a milder climate, and its service history tends to be intact. What you are taking on is the unknown of shipping, port handling and the first Kenyan service. Check the import documents, the duty status and the date it landed.
A locally used car has already met our roads, which is not automatically a bad thing: suspension, bushes and tyres have been replaced with parts you can source here, and a good owner leaves a paper trail. What you want is that trail — receipts, a mechanic who knows the car, and a logbook whose details match the chassis number in front of you.
Money-wise, a locally used car of the same age is usually cheaper to insure and to fix, while a fresh import often holds its value better for the first couple of years. Neither rule survives a bad example, so judge the specific car, not the category.
Ask us for the history of any car on the floor. If we cannot tell you where it has been, that is worth knowing too.