NAIROBI, KENYA: The Government has
unveiled a new transport policy that will
see all its departments lease vehicles
instead of purchasing them.
This, according to President Uhuru
Kenyatta, will ensure value for services
provided.
He said the move would ensure better
service delivery, creation of more jobs
and maximum value for money.
“The rationale behind the leasing as an
alternative to providing government
transport services is that it enables us
front-load access to many fully serviced
motor vehicles,” he said.
The President spoke at Uhuru Park in
Nairobi yesterday while launching 113
vehicles leased for the police service.
They are part of a 1,200 fleet to be leased
for use by security agencies.
COMING YEARS
Uhuru said in coming years, the
arrangement would be replicated in other
Government ministries and departments.
The vehicles will be shared between the
regular and Administration Police and
national administration.
The idea to lease vehicles within
Government was initially mooted by
Uhuru in the June 2010 Budget, when he
served as Finance Minister.
The plan was, however, shelved for what
Treasury then said was refusal to co-
operate by ministries and other
government agencies, including the police
force.
In a radical move that could see the
phasing out of State-owned auto-garages
and possible loss of jobs, Uhuru said the
leased vehicles would be maintained and
fuelled by the supplying company.
Contracted firms will also deploy
personnel to government offices to
oversee the running of the fleet.
BUDGET PROPOSAL
While tabling the proposal in June during
the Budget reading, National Treasury
Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said the
arrangement would include insurance,
scheduled and unscheduled maintenance,
replacement of non-functional vehicles,
and fleet monitoring. Toyota Kenya won
the tender to lease vehicles to the police
for Sh3 billion.