Jevic contract ends in 2015, clarifies Kenya Bureau of Standards
Imported cars at a freight-clearing station in Mombasa. FILE PHOTO | GIDEON MAUNDU |
What you need to know:
- A row has erupted between Jevic and Kebs after the standards body put up a notice on its website stating that the contract between them and Jevic had been terminated.
- Charles Munyori, the head of the Kenya Auto Bazaar Association, said the notice was contradictory.
A Japanese company at the centre of a vehicle inspection row has been allowed to continue checking cars until its contract expires in January.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) said any vehicle inspected by Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre Company Limited (Jevic) and which complies with Kebs requirements would be allowed in the country.
Kebs chairman Lucas Maitha was last week quoted saying the decision not to renew the Jevic contract after January was made after verifying more than 200 complaints made against Jevic.
“New contracts for the inspection of motor vehicles will be implemented effective January 16, 2015 following procurement of the inspection agents through an open tender process. The public will be notified in good time of the selected inspection agents effective 16th January 2015,” Kebs said in a statement.
EYED BY MANY
The early termination suggests that the company could find it difficult to get the lucrative contract eyed by many companies.
Two other firms, Auto Terminal Japan and Quality Inspection Services Inc Japan, are contracted to inspect the vehicles before shipping to Kenya. They won the tender in 2012.
It is understood that the jostling for this has already started and could be behind the recent claims that cars contaminated with radiation have been imported into Kenya.
A row has erupted between Jevic and Kebs after the standards body put up a notice on its website stating that the contract between them and Jevic had been terminated.
Vehicle importers were left confused because the notice stated at the end that the termination is “in line with the current contract that expires on 15th January 2015.”
CONTRADICTORY NOTICE
Charles Munyori, the head of the Kenya Auto Bazaar Association, said the notice was contradictory. Kebs should have stated what it meant by saying the contract had been terminated yet Jevic was still inspecting vehicles.
He however said that Kebs had informed vehicle importers that Jevic will continue to inspect the vehicles.
On Sunday, Jevic put out an announcement in the Nation to clear the air over the matter.
It stated that all bookings and inspections continue as per normal procedures. “Jevic’s certification is valid and accepted by KEBS and the Kenya Revenue Authority,” it said.
The company said it has successfully certified approximately 300,000 vehicles since it started working in Kenya.
