House to act on firms over car imports fraud

Nairobi, Kenya: Parliament has threatened to blacklist international companies implicated in importation of vehicles that are contaminated with radiation material.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said action will be taken after the ongoing investigations.

He said officials at both the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standard (Kebs) will be investigated for their role in importation fraud.

Some of the cars impounded were found to be old and contaminated.

Officials claimed Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre Company Limited (Jevic), a pre-shipment company contracted by Kebs, is linked to importation of four vehicles that were reported to be heavily contaminated with radioactive material.

"I can confirm people are importing very old and contaminated vehicles. I want to assure you that as Parliament, we won't just sit and see people breaking the law with impunity," said Mr Duale.

He added the House was concerned and will take appropriate measures to ensure every Kenyan is protected.

Duale said any company previously implicated in illegal activities in Kenya will not be eligible for any contractual engagement with the Government.

Senate Majority Whip Beatrice Elachi said the country's interests should be safeguarded.

"We cannot continue to allow some people to do business that affects the life of our people...You see how fast cancer is affecting people. Kebs and other institution should explain what exactly they are doing," said Elachi.

The four vehicles cleared by Jevic have since been reshipped back to Japan. There was no immediate response from Jevic on the matter.

Kenya Ports Authority head of security Mohammed Morowa said before vehicles are imported, they are inspected by three firms in Japan – Jevic, Auto Terminal Japan and Quality Inspection Service Japan, on behalf of Kebs.

Jevic had cleared the contaminated consignment for import and it took the intervention of the Protection Radiation Board, which discovered the consignment was heavily contaminated and blocked it from entry into the country at the port.

Investigation agencies are still probing circumstances under which Jevic cleared the vehicles.

Principal Radiation Protection Officer Nixon Mdachi said Radiation Protection Board has also impounded more cars during random inspection found with similar problems.