Mutunga caught in fresh row over luxury vehicles

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Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. Photo/FILE 

By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, November 3  2012 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Over and above the loan, the judicial officers would have earned allowances for the vehicles’ maintenance.

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The Judiciary rejected a recommendation to give senior judges government loans to buy cars, the Saturday Nation has learnt.

Instead the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) used the money to buy 40 new fuel guzzlers against standing government policy on transport. (READ: Judiciary buys 40 luxury fuel guzzlers for judges)

Under the proposed car loan scheme, the government would not have had to buy vehicles and would have recovered the money spent on the judge’s cars at an interest rate of three per cent.

The loan discussed and approved by the Judiciary would have allowed 80 senior officers from chief magistrates to the Appellate judges access about Sh450 million to finance the purchase of new cars and transport allowances.

Unnecessary spending

Had the scheme been implemented, the government would have avoided unnecessary spending to buy 40 new luxury cars. The vehicles were delivered to the Judicial Service Commission in September last year .

Over and above the loan, the judicial officers would have earned allowances for the vehicles’ maintenance.

But Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei, wrote back to the Treasury in October last year saying the scheme had been rejected.

Office holders

She argued that it would only offer limited benefits to the judges.

She further stated that the allowances proposed would be Sh150,000 less than those currently enjoyed by other constitutional office holders.

In another letter dated March 23, this year, Ms Shollei again wrote to Finance Permanent secretary Joseph Kinyua requesting approval to buy an expensive ceremonial car for Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, saying the one he had was too old and prone to frequent breakdowns.

Said Ms Shollei: “We have identified a Mercedes S350 as a suitable replacement. In addition, we would like to purchase Toyota Prados which are above 2,000cc for Court of Appeal judges”

But Mr Kinyua said government policy did not provide for such arrangements.

On Friday, a source from DT Dobie — dealers of Mercedes Benz vehicles — said that the Mercedes S Class, intended for the Chief Justice, was only available in 3.5 litres engine capacity and above and costs from Sh14 million and above.

Comprehensive response

When contacted, Ms Shollei said: “All issues relating to terms and conditions of service of Judges are dealt with by the Judicial Service Commission.

‘‘The commission will give a comprehensive response on the issues raised next week.”