Uhuru grilled

Uhuru Kenyatta Monday defended himself over the tendering and purchase of the Volkswagen Passat cars for ministers and top government officials.

Uhuru who appeared before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) was grilled for three hours.

He however maintained that the procedure was done above board at a cost of 489million contrary to reports putting the cost at 5billion shillings.

PAC had summoned the Minister to clarify if he had complied with the law in the purchase of vehicles, as well as if a competitive bidding process had been used.

Questions had been raised on the procedure used by the Minister to purchase the vehicles.

PAC wanted to be told how the government would save money from the deal and why Treasury single sourced the cars without competitive bidding.

According to PAC Chairman Bonny Khalwale, the law does not give the Finance Minister powers to buy vehicles for the ministries.

Khalwale said the law requires the Finance minister to present annual estimates to Parliament for approval, but does not give him powers to buy vehicles on behalf of ministries.

Uhuru said during this year's Budget Speech the move to replace Mercedes Benzes with Passats would save taxpayers Sh2 billion annually

Treasury bought 130 Passats to replace the fuel guzzlers. Some cabinet ministers have declined to return their fuel guzzlers and pick up the Passats.