The government of Kenya through the National Treasury and Economic Planning has published the Government Transport Policy.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that government transport facilitates the movement of staff, materials and equipment within the ever-increasing reliability and economy while working within a constrained resource environment.
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According to the draft policy, there is an alarm about the cost borne by the taxpayer in the management and maintenance of government assets.
The Transport Policy highlights that government transport alone cost the taxpayer Ksh8.6 billion in 2021, Ksh9.7 billion in 2022 and Ksh14.3 billion in 2023.
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In its response, the National Treasury has proposed a raft of measures to reduce the costs.
On air transport, the government notes that this policy aims to ensure compliance with the existing austerity measures.
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The policy recommends that the use of business class be restricted to only senior government officers of job groups R and above.
All other government officers on official travel within and outside Kenya will use the Economy class for travel.
On the other hand, hired air transport will only be used within the country under exceptional circumstances where other means of transport may not be appropriate, in security services or in disasters, while preference for air transport shall be given to the national carrier-Kenya Airways.
Government Transport Policy recommendations on vehicles
The policy also proposes a maximum of two vehicles to be allocated to cabinet secretaries and governors.
Permanent secretaries, deputy governors, heads of parastatals, chief executives of independent offices and commissions and county executive committee members (CECs) will receive one car each if this proposed the transport policy goes through.
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Chairpersons of state corporations are also set to receive one car while senior cadre officers from Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Counties (MDACs) will be facilitated from a pool of vehicles.
The only exception is commissioners of independent officers and members of parastatal boards who are required to use private vehicles and seek reimbursement.
On vehicles engine capacity, the policy has proposed a raft of changes to ensure that the government realizes value for money in fuel utilization, fleet efficiency and cost effectiveness and realized reduced maintenance costs.
Engine capacity
The policy states that passenger utility vehicles above 3000cc are not allowed in government, except specialized vehicles and for security purposes.
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Official vehicles purchased for use by CSs, Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, Secretary to the Cabinet and the Head of Public Service, shall not exceed 2600 cc for saloon cars and 3000cc for 4 x 4 utility vehicles.
In addition, official vehicles purchased for use by PSs, Accounting Officers, Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Director of Public Prosecution, Clerk of the National Assembly and the Senate, Heads of Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices, commissioners of constitutional commissions, Inspector-General of Police shall not exceed 2400cc for saloon cars and 3000 cc for 4 x 4 utility vehicles.
Official vehicles purchased for use by other officers on Job Group R and above and High Court Judges and Chief Executive of state corporations shall not exceed 2000 cc for saloon cars and 2900cc for 4 x 4 utility vehicles.
According to the Policy, vehicle allocation will be under the stewardship of the Government Fleet Management Department (GFMD) which is under the Treasury.
The GFMD will be responsible for overseeing the acquisition, utilization, maintenance, and disposal of Government-owned moveable assets.
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