CS Kuria says gov’t to set up company for dismantling unroadworthy vehicles

Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Investment and Industry Moses Kuria has announced that the government is set to establish a local company responsible for dismantling old unroadworthy vehicles.

The CS on Monday said the plan will kick off in the coming months and expressed relief that the government found a solution to what he described as a dilemma in disposing of the old vehicles.

“Am very excited to have met the Japanese Investors who are working closely with JICA and the Numerical Machine complex to establish a local company for dismantling End of Life Vehicles,” he tweeted.

He further said that the company would be instrumental in dismantling the vehicles in a manner that is environmentally friendly.

Owners of old vehicles will have the opportunity to sell their vehicles which in most cases are abandoned on people’s compounds and yards.

Kenya is yet to establish a government policy that would regulate the disposal of obsolete government vehicles.

According to CS Kuria, other countries have policies that mandate individuals to pay a disposal levy at the time of purchase of a vehicle.

He warned that if the vehicles are not correctly disposed of, the resultant effect would be detrimental to the health of individuals and the environment at large.

“I have also committed to have a government policy in place so that we can dispose of obsolete Government vehicles lying around. In other developed countries, they impose a disposal levy at the time of purchasing your vehicle,” Kuria said.

“When these heavy metals are not properly disposed of, they constitute a very serious threat to the environment and an expensive health hazard to people,” he added.