Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u on Thursday, June 15, stepped out in a Volkswagen Passat CC en route to Parliament to read Kenya Kwanza's maiden budget 2023/2024.
The CS made a drastic decision to abandon fuel-guzzling vehicles for a more efficient option.
Ndung'u stepped out of the Treasury office at around 2:15 pm accompanied by tight security. Dressed in a crisp dark-blue suit, white shirt and a red flower brooch planted on his blazer with intent, Ndung'u posed for photos while carrying the briefcase containing the budget estimates.
He later boarded the GKB Volkswagen Passat. The CS's motorcade snaked through Harambee Avenue escorted by officers from the National Police Service and General Service Unit (GSU).
Minutes later, he arrived at the Parliament's Buildings gate and headed to the chambers to make his first budget reading.
History
Ndung'u followed in his predecessor's footsteps, Ukur Yatani, who also boarded the German machine during his tenure. The vehicle was recommended by former president Uhuru Kenyatta (then Finance Minister) as an austerity measure.
In 2009, Uhuru argued that the VW Passat cars were cost-effective and more efficient as opposed to the Mercedes Benz E200 that was preferred by the previous administrations. He noted that the cost of procuring the Mercedes cost Ksh6.2 million, inclusive of duty charges, while VW Passat would retail at Ksh3.7 million.
The decision was, however, faulted by the then Budget Committee which questioned the process used in the acquisition of the vehicles.
Uhuru, however, assured that the 130 VW Passat cars were acquired through an open and competitive process.
The stylish vehicle offers a blend of performance and comfort. It has an engine capacity of 1,800 CC with 200 horsepower and a torque of 280.69 Newton Meters.
The vehicle can traverse 0-100 kilometres per hour in 7.6 seconds. With a top speed of 249 Km/hr and 1,587 Kilograms weight, the vehicle leaves nothing to chance in offering premium quality.
The Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) of the vehicle goes for an average of Ksh3.5 million to Ksh4 million. However, a second-hand make can fetch between Ksh1.3 million to about Ksh1.8 million for the more powerful versions.
