Shame as sleek cars seized from sacked Judges gather dust at parking bay
A number of top-of-the-range vehicles continue to gather dust at the Judiciary’s parking lot, in an institution required to keep check of public morals.
The luxury vehicles have been rusting, withstanding heavy downpours, overgrown grass and some have tyres that seem to be buried on the ground, yet they remain standing in what can only be described as wanton wastage of public resources.
Some of the fuel guzzlers were confiscated from senior judges who were fired after they were found unfit to continue serving by the Sharad Rao led Judges and Magistrates’ Vetting Board two years ago.
SEARCH FOR AUCTIONEERS
While admitting that the process has taken just a little longer than expected, the Judiciary’s department of Public Communication said that the delay has been attributed to the search for and response from auctioneers.
“An auctioneer has now been identified, we sent them a letter and we have been waiting for their acceptance, that is why we cannot name who they are because we are still waiting to hear from them,” said Ms Catherine Wambui.
A random spot check at the parking lot of the seemingly abandoned vehicles include Mercedes Benz, Peugeot 406s, Peugeot 504s, a Land Cruiser, among others. All of them have GK number plates.
While most of the vehicles appear new and seem to be clearly rusting away, others may be requiring minor repairs to be considered roadworthy.
On a normal working day, the home for these deserted vehicles is a normal filled car park and one which may not visibly show the seemingly abandoned ones since they are usually sandwiched between the used ones, hence slightly shadowed.
But on a public holiday, the judiciary car park’s graveyard is clear and distinct from the road.
CANCELLED TENDER
In December 2014, the judiciary embarked on process of disposing the vehicles but the exercise suffered a setback since the institution cancelled that tender.
The judiciary at the time explained that bids received then were too way below the reserved prices for the vehicles.
And now that the vehicles have remained in the parking lot almost two years later, is their worth still appreciating?
Parliament established the Act in 2005 for efficient public procurement and for the disposal of unserviceable, obsolete or surplus stores, assets and equipment by public entities but it took effect as from January 2007.
Among the reasons why this Act was created was to maximize economy and efficiency, promote the integrity and fairness as well as facilitate the promotion of local industry and economic development.
It is not the first time however this matter has caught public attention.
In 2013 when the media highlighted this issue, the Judiciary invited the Ministry of Public Works to inspect the vehicles, certificates were issued and the disposal process reportedly started.
An auction was even held afterwards in which 13 vehicles are said to have been disposed while 40 vehicles were at various stages of processing.
But along the way, just like before, the disposing process went quiet and voila the judiciary car graveyard!
