More heat than light as President sets mole hill of contraband goods ablaze

An earth mover crushes impounded vehicles in Athi River, Machakos County. President Uhuru Kenyatta set fire on an assortment of contraband and illegal goods worth billions of shillings yesterday. [Erastus Mulwa, Standard]

The destruction of an assortment of contraband and illegal goods worth billions of shillings was witnessed by President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday left more questions than answers.

Although huge heaps of bags containing illegal sugar, rice, alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs, electricals, roofing materials and other household consumables went up in flames at the East African Portland Cement factory in Machakos, a closer scrutiny of dozens of motor vehicles towed to the open field for crushing left a lot to be desired.

Inside the temporary yard stood vandalised and rusty shells of cars bearing both local and foreign registration numbers instead of roadworthy vehicles. Mostly the vandalised parts included headlights, dashboard gadgets, gear boxes, side mirrors and even engines.

Kenya Revenue Authority officials allowed journalists to photograph all other goods assembled for burning, but cordoned off the vehicles’ yard saying the press would only be allowed to record images once the Presidentarrives. But an earlier check by Saturday Standardrevealed shocking conditions of most of the vehicles in the destruction yard.

KRA Director General John Njiraini downplayed fears of foul play, saying the vehicles had been lying in various yards across the country for long.

“Most of these impounded vehicles had been lying in yards countrywide for a long time. More will be brought for crushing from Mombasa, Eldoret, Busia and Namanga,” he said.

A tough talking President Kenyatta arrived at the venue in the evening and vowed to deal with corrupt networks ruthlessly. He admitted that networks were giving him nightmares but vowed to soldier on with his anti-corruption purge. “Join me in crushing these cartels. They have no space in our new Kenya,” the presidentsaid before lighting up the flames.

Yesterday’s event was supposed to be on Wednesday but Uhuru didn’t show up and the head of the multi–agency team Musiambo Wanyama called it off and convened a crisis meeting where he directed officials to ensure all the contraband goods which are intended for destruction were on site by yesterday.

According to the Kenya Anti Counterfeit Agency (ACA) an estimated Sh70 billion is lost in revenue and tax evasion through counterfeits products.