November 26, 2024

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Expensive Limousine Mzee Kenyatta Ordered Despite Kenya Being Bankrupt

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Founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta ignored the advice of Treasury, Procurement and Tendering process about 57 years ago when he ordered for an expensive limousine.

It was in late 1963 as Kenya neared to get independence. That time Kenyatta was the Prime Minister. He asked the Ministry of Finance to purchase for him one of then most expensive limousine in the world yet Kenya was broke.

JOMO KENYATTA'S BENZO – Play Blvd Mag

He ordered for Rolls Royce Phantom V from the London’s Motor Show that cost hundreds of thousands. Finance Minister James Gichuru advised him against it as Kenya was was bankrupt and thus it was not prudent to buy such a luxury car.

Kenyatta had served as Prime Minister for barely five months when he made this demand that cost the country a fortune. Rolls Royce Phantom V limousine was produced by British manufacturer from 1959 to 1968 and was owned by Queen Elizabeth and her daughter Queen Elizabeth II and some high-profile personalities.

Inside Rolls Royce Phantom V.

The purchase of the car flouted the first procurement and tendering process. There was no budgetary provision and the Central Tender Board did not call for multiple quotations from suppliers as required.

Former MP Joe Khamisi in his book “Kenya: Looters and Grabbers” says that single action by Kenyatta of infringing procurement rules set the precedence for civil servants to follow and for corruption to thrive throughout his regime and the three administrations that followed.