I bought car from State and paid tax, says ex-MP

Former Kaspul MP Oyugi Magwanga (pictured), the owner of one of 444 vehicles authorities say have been fraudulently registered, has denied the claim.

He said he bought the Toyota Land Cruiser that officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said they are looking for at Sh60,000 from the Government 12 years ago.

Mr Magwanga yesterday said he paid the taxes due for the vehicle, KBZ 333Q. The former legislator said he has the documents to prove he does not owe the taxman anything as far as the vehicle is concerned.

He said the vehicle, initially GK Y 611, was auctioned by the State due to mechanical problems.

“Why is someone claiming the vehicle’s registration number is now invalid when it was bonded by the Government and duly registered? This is malicious.”

Magwanga said he processed the car’s registration through the Ministry of Health in 2007. The vehicle was then listed for sale in Rachuonyo district.

“Government agencies advertised a number of automobiles and my Land Cruiser was among them. Actually, I bought quite a number,” said Magwanga.

“I have a bonded title, which gives me the same rights as a standard vehicle title. If you have a bonded vehicle, you are required to register such a vehicle when the original ownership has been transferred to you. This is what I did exactly,” the ex-MP said.

A bonded title, also known as a Certificate of Title Surety, is a document that proves a person’s ownership of a motor vehicle. It can be used in place of a standard vehicle title to register a car.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has also denied claims he owns a car that is among those impounded over fraudulent registration claims.

Reacting to Wednesday’s story by The Standard, Raila’s spokesman Dennis Onyango denied knowledge of the luxury vehicle, a Range Rover registration KCS 002D that was linked to the former PM.

Igembe North MP Maoka Maore, listed as owner of KBL 088N (Range Rover) that is also wanted by DCI, refused to give the status of his car, saying the burden of proof should be on KRA.