Why you are courting cancer by driving an imported car

Kenya: The car you are driving could be heavily contaminated with radiation material, known to be a leading risk for cancer causation.

This revelation comes after the Government confirmation three companies that conduct inspection on behalf of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) have been compromising safety standards prescribed in the law. National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale said the Government has since established through various departments that the said companies have been clearing for importation into Kenya vehicles that are a big risk to Kenyans' security.

Mr Duale, without mincing words, said the Government is contemplating taking radical measures against the companies, including blacklisting them. "The Government has confirmed through various Government departments that the three companies that conduct inspection and clearance for vehicles to be imported into the country have been importing vehicles that risk the healthy well-being of the Kenyan people.

All of them have abused their contractual obligation with the Government. The Government is utterly concerned," said Duale. The chief Government representative in Parliament further said KEBS Managing Director Charles Ongwae and the Board of Governors have been made aware of the matter.

Duale's revelations come hardly a week after KEBS terminated its contract with one of the companies, JEVIC for allegedly not leaving up to the contractual obligations. The three companies JEVIC, Quality Inspection Services of Japan and Auto Terminal have been contracted by KEBS to ensure vehicles imported into the country are hazard free.

Some companies are said to have heavy local connections with allegations that the two companies spared the axe also had similar allegations as those raised against JEVIC. Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said JIVEC was responsible for at least 75 per cent of all the dirty cars imported during the period it had a contract with KEBS.

"JIVEC was responsible to a large extent. Majority of the vehicles with radiation material contamination were cleared by JIVEC," said EACC spokesperson Yassin Arira. Emuhaya MP Wilbur Ottichilo said importation of old cars and those affected by radiation material was partly to blame for the rising cases of cancer. At least four vehicles that had been detained at the port of Mombasa for allegedly being contaminated with radiation material have since been sent back to their country of origin.