Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya's president Mwai Kibaki and his controversial First Lady Lucy Kibaki on Tuesday ordered for eight top-of-the-range custom made cars to be returned to the dealers, as a means of austerity measures announced by the Minister of Finance on the purchasing of fuel guzzlers in 2009 budget statement.
The minister had proposed that ministers and other senior government officials should return to the use of cost effective 1800cc vehicles.
According to a statement released by the Presidential Press Service, the president had made the decision to return the cars as a way of tightening the belts with the rest of Kenyans in the current hard economic hardships. "Following the instructions by their Excellencies, the eight vehicles were this morning delivered to the dealers,” said the statement.
An employee of DT Dobie - the Mercedes Benz car dealer in Kenya - said part of the eight cars included four customized Mercedes E280 Benzes and four Toyota Prados. The Mecedes Benz was selling for Kshs 4 million to 9 Million (USD 54,000 -120,000). On the other hand, a customized Toyota Prado similar to the ones delivered to the state house goes for between Kshs9 million to 15 Million (USD 120,000 -150,000).
The president is also thought to have made the decision based on the fact that the cars were bought without his consent, our reporter said. In Kenya, cars for the top officials-the president, vice president and the Prime Minister are normally bought after they are consulted to know their desired specific features and preferences. The cars could include cooler boxes, piped music, bulletproof tires and windows and extra interior space among other features. Some of the customized vehicles could also have special electronic trackers and sensors.
Meanwhile, the decision of the president to reject the cars did not go down well with some ministers and other senior government officials. A few have voiced their displeasure at the finance minister's directive. One such case is the Minister for Housing Soita Shitanda, who had referred to 1800cc cars as "those for teenagers."
Kenya's president Mwai Kibaki and his controversial First Lady Lucy Kibaki on Tuesday ordered for eight top-of-the-range custom made cars to be returned to the dealers, as a means of austerity measures announced by the Minister of Finance on the purchasing of fuel guzzlers in 2009 budget statement.
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