This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
Published on October 11, 2019, The Standard reported that the Senate had hired a top-of-the-range Mercedes Benz S Class for Speaker Ken Lusaka at a cost of Sh2.4 million for six months.
The Senate made this decision after Lusaka's official car was impounded by a local car dealer over a Sh7 million debt. Instead of settling the debt or finding an alternative solution, the Senate opted to incur additional costs, which will be borne by taxpayers.
According to The Standard, the Senate hired a Toyota V8 for Lusaka after his official car was seized. The Parliamentary Service Commission chairman, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, claimed he was unaware of the situation and the Senate's decision to hire another car for Lusaka.
When questioned about the matter, Lusaka stated that the vehicle was taken to the car dealer for service two weeks prior and was detained. He also claimed that spare parts for the vehicle were scarce.
The Senate Clerk, Jeremiah Nyegenye, confirmed that the vehicle had not been released and that the Senate was working on settling the bill. He stated that the payment was delayed due to the need to ensure the authenticity of the parts repaired and the importation process, which takes long.
A senior official at Parliament noted that the procurement process takes long to complete, even when the cost of repairs is negligible. They emphasized that due diligence must be followed in government accounting.
