A veteran politician and Minister from Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's era, Mr Paul Joseph Ngei, is remembered as the only politician who managed to test drive a Mercedes-Benz for 20 years.
Mr Ngei allegedly walked into a DT Dobie showroom in Industrial Area and took the vehicle instructing the car dealership to send the bill to the government.
The government, however, refused to pay the dealer for the vehicle claiming that the then Minister had taken it for his personal use and not in his official capacity.
Details would emerge two decades later that the Mercedes was still owned by the dealership when auctioneers tried to seize it.
Mr Ngei is said to have been returning the car to DT Dobie for regular repairs during the years.
The Nyayo regime also witnessed a stolen Mercedes Benz that was never returned after two Somali bandits drove away in the car that belonged to President Daniel Moi.
The incident took place when Kenya was at war with Somalia and it is credited as being part of the reason behind frosty relations between former President Moi and former Somali President Siad Barre.
After Kenyan police recovered the President's car and arrested the thieves, Mr Barre is said to have stormed State House demanding the release of the Somali nationals and return of the car.
Last year during the Mashujaa Day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled the statue of Ngei at the Machakos Junction turn off – solidifying his place as a national hero.
The president’s decision was, however, faulted by a number of historians who asserted that Ngei is a man best remembered for his scandalous life and abuse of power.
Historical records have confirmed that Ngei physically and verbally assaulted the elder Kenyatta when the two were serving time in Kapenguria prison.
At one point, records indicate, Ngei almost pushed Kenyatta into a burning furnace to protest “Kenyatta’s cooking”.
[caption caption="Mr Paul Ngei who was Kenya's Marketing and Cooperatives Minister in 1965 "]
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