Letters and correspondences between two state agencies and permanent secretaries over the importation of aged motor vehicles were yesterday produced in court in a fraud case against former Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey.
The letters were exchanged between the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards and permanent secretaries in the ministries of Trade, Environment, Transport and were copied to the head of public service Francis Muthaura.
Among those produced was a letter by the Industrialization PS Karanja Kibicho disputing allegations of abuse of law in the ministry. The letter is dated august 25 2010.“I wish to dispute the allegation labelled against the ministry that there is abuse of law in exercising the powers granted to the minister for exemption of vehicles which are over eight year old and left hand drive vehicles.
The letter from the PS was in response to another letter written by the KRA Commissioner General to the permanent secretaries complaining that the exemptions of aged motor vehicles and left hand vehicles was rising at an alarming rate.
In his letter, the Commissioner General had told the ministry to either respect the law or do away with it to avoid double standard. Kibicho, who was testifying in the trial of Kosgey, said he was not aware if Kebs earned or lost revenue from all the vehicles that were exempted.
During cross examination, the PS was taken to task to explain what he meant in his letter to the Finance PS Joseph Kinyua disputing fraud allegation after he told court Kosgey did not follow his advice.
The Tinderet MP is facing abuse of office charges.He is accused of using his office to exempt importation of hundreds of cars into the country against the eight-year age limit for used vehicles.
He allegedly committed committing the offences between November 19 2009 and May 13, 2010 at the ministry’s headquarters at Telposta Towers in Nairobi. Hearing continues.
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