Kenyan Minister investigated over possession of what would have been Moi vehicle

Recovered vehicle

Police in Kenya  are investigating how a Cabinet minister owned a Range Rover valued at Sh18 million that was stolen from car making company CMC in 2008.
The car was seized at the CMC workshop on Friday,September 07 after it was driven there by the minister’s driver for service.
The green car had initially been ordered by retired President Daniel Arap Moi but he was yet to take its ownership when it was stolen in November 2008.

Retired President Moi

Mr Moi had said through his press secretary Lee Njiru that he had not taken possession of the stolen vehicle so he did not own it. CMC also denied any vehicle belonging to Moi had been stolen.
It was CMC group CEO Bill Lay said the vehicle has details that closely match a top-of-range customized motor vehicle that went missing from their workshop in 2008.
Lay said the vehicle was impounded following stringent measures tat had been put in place by the new company management.
The driver of the minister has apparently been bringing the car to the workshop in the past for normal services but it was not detected as stolen.
Come Thursday, the driver brought it under different registration numbers other than the ones that he has been registering it in the previous service sessions.
It had problems in its ignation key that needed service.
The registration numbers appearing on the insurance sticker were different from those on the number plate.
It was then that mechanics at the yard fed their data with the ones in store and realized the car had been noted as stolen.
The driver was asked to explain the owner and mentioned the minister who has since told police he bought it from a motor dealer who resides in South C area.
Detectives from Flying Squad led by Nyale Munga arrived at the workshop and drove with the car to Nairobi Area yard as they announced they were looking for the dealer alleged to have sold the car to the minister.
“We are making good progress and we will tell you more soon,” said Munga last evening.
Mr Lay said they had put in place measures to enhance surveillance by thoroughly scrutinizing and screening all vehicles that are taken to the workshop for service and repairs.
“Our suspicion is based on the fact that our diagnostic engine analysis results closely match the engine details of vehicle earlier reported missing,” said Lay.

Symbol of KANU

The car had been custom made for the retired president and had been imported by CMC when it was stolen.
It was stolen from the yard as it waited to be cleared. Then, seven workers were later arrested and charged with stealing the car.

Moi had during his rule experienced theft at his Kabarak home when a statute of Cockerel a symbol of his party of rule KANU was stolen from his bedroom and is believed to have been shocked by the incident.