The Kenyan government will spend Ksh.10 billion to hire cars for police officers, according to the National Treasury books.
Leasing of the cars will be done locally, to the benefit of the local motor assemblers in the country who have already received bids to manufacture units for officers.
In December last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed all ministries and other state agencies to buy locally assembled cars.
It is an addition of Ksh.13 billion President Uhuru Kenyatta announced for police operations, where Ksh.3 billion was meant for hiring cars for men in uniform.
So far the government has ordered more than 35 units of Proton Saga car N70 model while the police ordered more 100 plus units of Mahindra pick-ups.
When the locally assembled Proton Saga vehicle was launched by President Kenyatta in 2020 at Miritini Mombasa, the price per unit was Ksh.1.1 million inclusive of VAT.
Its price has gone up by 36 percent to Ksh.1.56 million. COVID-19 pandemic has affected the freight charges which increased from Ksh.88,500 (US$.800) to close to Ksh.221,300 (US$.2,000) to bring in a kit for a Proton.
NCBA has already signed a deal that will see the leasing of 250 Vehicles to the Kenya Police at the cost of Ksh.1.2 billion.
NCBA Leasing in partnership with Toyota Kenya has handed over the first 49 vehicles to the National Police Service with the remaining units set to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022.
In such deals, the government pays lease rentals for the vehicles on a quarterly basis.
Treasury has been pushing for car hire over claims it helps curb the misuse and ensure that they are properly maintained.
Hiring also ensures that the fuel is used economically and in an accountable way.
The vehicle providers would service and monitor their movements. The geo-sensor network would be able to observe the movement of cars, and track their location via a car identifier.
This yea’s kitty for police cars is part of Ksh.317.9 billion the state has set aside for National Security.
