The government, through the office of the President, has unearthed a new trick that is used by public officials to procure state vehicles.
According to a letter addressed to all Principal Secretaries and signed by the head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, the ministries colluded with accounting units to procure the vehicles outside the framework set by the state.
"The government has of late noted an emerging trend where ministries/departments and accounting units are procuring vehicles outside the framework and at uncompetitive prices leading to inefficient use of public resources," read the letter.
Kinyua, through the letter dated February 5, 2019, therefore, took the opportunity to inform all public offices about the new motor vehicle procurement framework to guide them.
He further disclosed that the new directive would take effect immediately.
"With effect from the date of this circular, all ministries/departments and Accounting Units are directed to ensure that procurements of all motor vehicles funded through the National Treasury comply with the new framework," continued the letter.
The directive applies to the procurement of vehicles in state corporations, constitutional and other commissions, independent offices, the judiciary and the legislature among others.
The letter was copied to all cabinet secretaries and heads of public corporations and commissions.
This comes months after Auditor General Edward Ouko revealed that the office of the President could not account for Ksh2.7 Billion.
An examination of the report shows that the Presidency spent the money on confidential expenditure in three financial years between 2014 and 2016.
Payments worth Kshs 165,587,200 were made to various companies for the supply of motor vehicles.
