Parliament, Judiciary ordered to surrender luxury vehicles

It is now the turn of the Judiciary and Parliament to give up high-engine capacity vehicles as the government intensifies austerity measures meant to release money to plug the shortfall in the Sh1.45 trillion national budget.

This follows a Cabinet meeting on Thursday which resolved that austerity measures such as the purchase of luxury vehicles should apply to all arms of government.

However, the plan is likely to create new friction between the Executive and the other arms of government coming at a time when the Judiciary has started a fresh round of spending on high capacity vehicles, with Chief Justice Willy Mutunga expressing the desire to buy two helicopters for judicial officers.

“The Parliament clerk has already complied because he drives a Passat just like permanent secretaries. It is only the Speaker who uses a Mercedes, but he will not be affected just like the President, Vice-President, Chief Justice and the Prime Minister,” said parliament’s spokesperson.

“The other staff use cars that meet this requirement, and those who don’t are driving personal cars given that they are MPs,” he told the Nation in a telephone interview.

Cautious spending

About 100 fuel guzzlers, including Mercedes Benzes, Toyota Prados, Volvos, and Mitsubishi Pajeros, were seized from senior public officials and auctioned last year.

This was after the treasury’s policy on cautious spending that saw government buy the 1800cc Volkswagen Passats for ministers, assistant ministers and permanent secretaries.

The Cabinet also resolved that budgets of all arms of government will be subject to scrutiny by taxpayers.

The Cabinet also issued a cautionary statement on funds that will be set aside for salaries of public officers. It was observed the need to cap the total allocation for salaries and recurrent expenditure to allow for adequate funds for the nation’s development.

The capping of salaries should also apply to the many independent commissions.

“The Salaries and Remuneration Commission should move with haste to ensure that the total wage bill does not threaten the nation’s macro- economic stability,” read the cabinet brief.

The Cabinet further noted that the country’s economic prospects looked good with a projected economic growth rate of six per cent while revenue collection was projected to increase to Sh954 billion in the new financial year up from Sh794 billion.

In its other recommendations, cabinet proposed that Sh3.1 billion be allocated for recruitment of 900 doctors, nurses and health workers. It also asked for Sh5 billion for the implementation of the second phase of allowances for doctors, nurses and health workers.

The cabinet set aside Sh2.5 billion for recruitment of 7,000 police officers and the purchase of additional police vehicles.