HOW KENYA'S COALITION GOVERNMENT BIG SHOTS FLEECE THE GOVERNMENT

DAILY NATION
NAIROBI, KENYA
By LUCAS BARASA
April 5 2009

As close to 10 million Kenyans struggle with famine, the Grand Coalition Government has been engaged in a spending spree on fuel guzzling limousines. Ministers from across the political divide have been struggling to outdo each on the make, cost and class of vehicles at their disposal.

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Most of the cars the ministers are being chauffeured in are new Mercedes S series models costing as much as Sh20 million each. The vehicles are custom-made to the buyer’s specifications.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for instance, was allocated a Mercedes S350, a “lower” model than Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Mercedes S500. The latter car was also used by former Vice-President Michael Wamalwa.

Most of the other ministers were bought Mercedes S280 cars. A Mercedes S350 is valued at between Sh13 million and Sh20 million depending on the specifications. An E Class is worth at least Sh9 million.

The ministers usually have two or three other vehicles for their use. Others, including Internal Security minister George Saitoti, Environment’s John Michuki and the deputy prime ministers, also have chase cars.

Surrendered

Although minister Amos Kimunya had ordered the return of extra vehicles used by the ministers as a bid to cut government spending when he held the Finance docket, some were never surrendered.

Most of the cars surrendered are yet to be auctioned and are lying at the government yard in Industrial Area. The trend where the government indicated the total budget for vehicles, broken down by ministries and the number to be purchased, stopped following the release of a Kenya National Commission on Human Rights report that laid bare wastage of funds three years ago.

It is now difficult to know exactly how many vehicles were bought recently by the Grand Coalition Government. Going by the registration numbers, however, a spot check by the Nation showed that most of the cars being used by ministers are new.

READERS' COMMENTS:

Submitted by madhair
Posted April 06, 2009 05:51 PM

Just look at the crowd sitting by the roadsides, watching those big cars, but so thin and with faces filled with lack of hope. And here comes the "big men" to show off! Shame on them all...those who call themselves leaders and enjoy life at the expense of the poor.

Submitted by Mishuki
Posted April 06, 2009 05:18 PM

Wanainchi NO more street protests..we are tired of making leaders wanting lavish life styles while people are suffering...And they have no agenda, always thinking of election and 2012 politics.

Submitted by EddieMu
Posted April 06, 2009 04:59 PM

Kenya needs an overhaul in the political manpower. All these politicians are a VERY greedy lot that are not interested in Kenya but in their pot bellies.

Submitted by cashD
Posted April 06, 2009 04:52 PM

It appears that the media is working very hard towards creating an "Us" against "them" atmosphere in Kenya, and while I do not condone the lavish and ostentatious behaviour of Kenya's elite, I worry about this constant harping on their "ill gotten" wealth.

Submitted by kennystar
Posted April 06, 2009 04:52 PM

A majority of Kenyans live on a daily dose of desperation!Talk of leaders? Please the Nation kindly coin a different word for referring to these bunch of political thugs. They don't deserve to be referred to as 'leaders'.They are nothing but a bunch of greedy pigs!!

Submitted by CarrieBX
Posted April 06, 2009 04:00 PM

This is ridiculous in the least and avaricious in the utmost. It is obscene for people to buy cars on tax money while tax-payers are starving and dying. Worse, these people making these expensive purchases dont even pay tax! I ask again, how long are we going to endure this nonsense? Our country is going to the dogs while we watch, and we are as much to blame as these greedy 'leaders'.

Submitted by humphrey2030
Posted April 06, 2009 03:44 PM

Unless we Kenyans realize for as long as we regroup into our ethnic cocoons each elections year, we will continue to safe-guard the selfish interests of the many politicians who purport to be leaders. We have no reason to complain as politicians squander public funds!We have no moral ground to condemn them!

Submitted by manmanu
Posted April 06, 2009 03:14 PM

When l say Kibaki is killing our country sometimes my comments are not printed. This mzee has no idea what it means to go without food while his goverment keeps enjoying itself like this . Why would a minister need three expensive cars? How many Kenyans will die without ever owning a car let alone make 800,000 in ther life time which MPs make per month and dont pay taxes on ? Vijana amkeni 2012 ni yetu. It is our future that these guys are killing.

Submitted by dburudi
Posted April 06, 2009 02:40 PM

This is not a fault of the government but that of Kenyans who keep on voting the wrong people into office. It has been long overdue and must be a lesson to get young, educated forward thinking Kenyans into power. Let us not be cheated during campaigns with kilos of sugar for a vote. Get rid of all these hefty pay civil servants called ‘government’. They should do car share and use their own vehicles for regular travel (maybe claim expenses on them). Am frustrated…if I was there I would stand and challenge my MP for a start

Submitted by Afrikanese
Posted April 06, 2009 12:28 PM

And for the millions of starving Kenyans, as Marie-Antoinette (1755 -93)said: "Let them eat cake".

Submitted by Sprately
Posted April 06, 2009 05:22 AM

Every day I read the Nation, I get annoyed. The Qatar issue,the land ownership issue in the Rift Valley,the allocation of Mau Forest land and not to mention the famine that is facing us now. I'm actually disturbed and wondering how my children,grand children and future generations will live. Everything for now is being worsened. Our leaders have just ignored the citizens plight. When are the Kibakis and the Railas going to wake up and do something good for the sake of the country?

Submitted by normke
Posted April 06, 2009 03:02 AM

Such stories, among others, make me say " Navumilia kuwa mkenya." God help us all.