Kebs backs imported cars inspection firm

The standards agency has dismissed motor vehicle dealers’ claim that a firm contracted to inspect imported cars lacks capacity for the job.

Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director Charles Ongwae said Quality Inspection Services Japan (QISJ) had 29 inspection sites and not two, as alleged by members of the Car Importers Association of Kenya.

Mr Ongwae accused the importers of being accomplices in underhand deals by cartels that he said had been exploiting the presence of many inspection firms to import unroadworthy vehicles.

He said some vehicles had been rejected because they did not meet the required standards.

“In the past they (importers) had three choices of inspectors and hence could easily get unroadworthy vehicles to pass. This is no longer possible with one inspection company.

276 VEHICLES REJECTED

“During the month of February, 276 vehicles were rejected on first inspection and owners were asked to fix them before re-inspection.

“Some of the noise you are hearing from the importers could be coming from people whose vehicles were rejected,” Mr Ongwae said in a statement.

Last week, Mr Peter Otieno, the importers’ association chairman, claimed the Japanese firm did not have capacity to inspect more than 300 units that were being delivered to its sites daily because it had only two inspection centres.

He said Kebs should contract more companies for the job.

“Each day, there are about 300 units that should be inspected, yet they are only doing about 150.

“This has created a backlog that we fear will increase, as the high season sets in, and result in losses, which is unacceptable,” Mr Otieno told journalists at a news conference in Mombasa.

Mr Ongwae said the claims were not supported by facts. “Our due diligence on QISJ during the tender process confirmed that they have capacity to inspect the total volumes being exported to Kenya.”

SECOND-HAND VEHICLES

Kenya imports about 7,000 second-hand vehicles from Japan, Dubai, United Kingdom, South Africa and Singapore every month.

Before the current inspection firm was awarded the deal, Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre (Jevic) was contracted to carry out the inspections.

Last November, Kebs evaluated interested bidders for the work. In December, it informed Jevic that its contract would not be renewed because another firm had won the tender.

Dissatisfied, the company went to court and applied for a review of the tender. It was aggrieved that while its contract was not extended, those of QISJ and Auto Japan Terminal were renewed.