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Government should sell Passats and PM office

Published on 02/02/2010

By Kipkirui K’Telwa

The ongoing renovation of a building situated along Harambee Avenue should be halted. This building, once renovations have been completed, will house the Prime Minister’s offices. At the moment, the Premier’s offices are at Treasury building.

I want the renovations stopped because last week, the Parliamentary Select Committee deleted the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya from the Revised Harmonised Draft Constitution.

Therefore the renovation of what would become PM’s office should stop and any money that had been budgeted for the project diverted to Ministry of Special Programmes. This is one ministry that requires a lot of money to resettle IDPs and Mau evictees.

In case the renovation is nearing completion, then the government can auction the building to Libyans or Chinese, who are currently the leading strategic investors in Kenya. We can call it ‘China House’ or ‘Libya House’. After all, the two countries have entrenched themselves in strategic investments such as infrastructure, hotels and mining among others.

I also suggest that further purchases of VW Passat cars as directed by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta should be stopped. There is no point of pretending that the State saves any money by crowding ministers into miniature cars while permanent secretaries and other senior government officials, ride in Toyota Prados, Nissan Patrols among other fuel guzzlers. I often see Mercedes Benz cars bearing GK number plates. Why have they not been sold?

Why save fuel only for the Kenya Air Force to waste it on Madaraka, Kenyatta and Jamhuri days respectively with their flypast stunts. What is wrong with a minister riding in a long and wide car? These people need a lot of space. And the flag? Our flag needs to be respected. Serious people do not fly national flags on a saloon car. Uhuru’s directive can only go as far as cheap jokes fly.

COMMENTS

1. On Wednesday February 3, 2010, 19:59 PM , James Maina, Bermuda wrote:

  I am not at all comfortable with Libya and China getting too deeply rooted in the business and investment arenas in Kenya. Hopefully their involvement is providing long term jobs to Kenyans. Kenyans are not aware of the China's hidden agendas in their expansion policies to most African countries. The future generations may be forced to speak Chinese thru a second wave of neo-colonialism. Beware!

 

2. On Wednesday February 3, 2010, 10:24 AM , Andrew, Kenya wrote:

  Flags on salon cars? Give us a break, come here and you will see them flying from light posts and kitchen windows. The LOVE for one's nation.

 

3. On Tuesday February 2, 2010, 3:40 AM , James Maina, Bermuda wrote:

  Kip, I agree the new PM's office need to be stopped. Kenyans cannot afford the hefty money wasted to pay a PM, his assistants, etc. Passats are a perfect fit for elected folks plus civil servants. They need to buy personal cars with minimum fuel consumption or take the bus. And, how about VW Bettles for all of them bustards. They are milking the tax payers to death in the name of Waheshimiwas.

 

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