Magistrate told Kosgey granted exemptions for vehicle imports

By Judy Ogutu                   

A trader narrated to an anti-corruption court how he applied for and received exemptions for used motor vehicles last year.

Mr Choudhry Homayoun Akhphar, who is a director at Yuasa International, told Principal Magistrate Elijah Obaga that former Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey, granted the exemptions.

Akphar was testifying in a case in which Kosgey is charged with abuse of office. It is alleged he used his office to improperly exempt individuals and companies importing 113 vehicles that did not meet Kenya Standards Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.

According to the code of practice, the importation of vehicles more than eight years old was outlawed except if done in national interest, for diplomatic corps or those brought in by returning citizens.

Held at freight

On Tuesday, the witness read in court letters, which he had allegedly written to Kosgey, requesting for waivers.

However, he said he did not know the vehicles were above the year limit. He said he only learnt of the hitch while going to obtain their release from container freight stations.

He also said he bought many vehicles from Parkens Investment Limited, which were all above the year limit after which he applied for and received waivers from the former minister. The trader said he bought other vehicles from Al Pacific Limited and one of the directors of Yuasa wrote a letter requesting the minister to grant the waivers, which he did.

It emerged despite the waivers having been granted, the vehicles were still being held in different container freight stations in Mombasa.

On being asked by special prosecutor Patrick Kiage why the vehicles were still being held, he said he had never been given any reason.

“I tried my best but they refused to release the motor vehicles. They did not give me reasons,” he said. On being cross-examined by Kosgey’s advocate Julius Kemboy, the witness said he sought for the exemptions because he risked suffering losses. “It was going to be a big loss for my company if I did not get exemption,” he said.