'The cost of buying the things' matters quite significantly in developing countries as is evidenced by Tata's high-profile release of the $2200 Nano (http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/) in India. As discussed on the site (http://mobiusmotors.com/demand/alternatives.html), high-capacity public transport vehicles already exist in rural Africa. Making the American school buses rugged enough for the typical rural African roads and longer travel distances would certainly increase their cost. Mobius Motors is targeting a market segment similar to that of the Tata Nano.

I posted this article to highlight the growing entrepreneurial confidence in Africa (Kenya in this case).