The Senate was forced to hire a new car for the Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka at a cost to the taxpayer after his high-end car was impounded over outstanding debt.
The Standard reported on Friday, October 11, that the senate was set to pay Ksh400,000 a month for the next six months for the new car after his Ksh7 million Mercedes Benz S-Class was repossessed by a local dealer.
The new car, a Toyota V8, was reportedly acquired after the Senate negotiated a deal with the garage that impounded the car to allow the speaker comfortable mobility while they sought an alternative.
This, however, did not mean that the government would be exempted from settling the outstanding debt.
The Standard further reported that Lusaka had taken the vehicle for repairs and routine maintenance when the dealers impounded it.
Lusaka, however, is said to have insisted that the car had not been impounded, but had been locked in the garage as they awaited spare parts to be fitted.
"The vehicle was collected two weeks ago. Spare parts are sometimes difficult to come by. Spare parts of this kind of vehicle are scarce," he was quoted.
Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye agreed with Speaker Lusaka's version of the story.
He confirmed that the vehicle had not been released, but clarified that it was because the Senate was still working on a means to settle the repair bill before the company freed the vehicle.
"We are working on payment. It delayed because the car dealer must ensure parts repaired are authentic, and this could mean importation, which takes longer."
