Nairobi — Thirty two Cabinet ministers, 40 assistant ministers and 27 permanent secretaries were by Thursday yet to comply with a new government policy to use more economical vehicles.

Seven Cabinet ministers on Thursday turned in their big engine vehicles in line with a government directive that public officials be issued with cars with an engine capacity of 1800cc of less.

Those who complied were Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Defence minister Yusuf Haji, Lands minister James Orengo, Public Health minister Beth Mugo, Higher Education minister Sally Kosgei, Youth minister Hellen Sambili, Tourism minister Najib Balala and Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey.

Treasury officials were asked to return Mr Kenyatta's Mercedes Benz Kompressor to the chief mechanical and transport engineer's yard in Industrial Area from the basement at the ministry headquarters, where it was kept.

Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga returned his in Kericho, where it was being repaired. Both Mr Kenyatta and Dr Oginga, as well as permanent secretary Joseph Kinyua, have been using the low-capacity vehicle recommended for top officials, the VW Passat.

Only the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister are exempted from the rule.

The President and his family rejected seven top of the range vehicles which they said were bought without their knowledge, to demonstrate support for the austerity measures. At least some State House officials are no longer using their gas guzzlers.

But some ministries under the Office of the President, such as Prof Saitoti's Internal Security docket, had by Thursday not returned their big engine vehicles.

It is up to the President and the Prime Minister to decide what action to take against ministers and permanent secretaries who do not comply by the end of Friday.

On Thursday, Mr Kenyatta said such delays in returning the vehicles were expected, but he hoped all the ministers and officials would comply.

Ministry of Finance-based transport taskforce chairman Donald Kibera said everybody was expected to comply.

"Some ministers are on duty out of the city or abroad and others have asked for some time, like the Ministry of Education, currently involved in national exams," he said.

Mr Kenyatta, Dr Oginga and Mr Kinyua were all not available for comment on what action the Treasury was recommending against those who defy the directive.

The Vice-President's spokesman, Mr Kaplich Barsito said the ministry of Home Affairs had complied.

With only hours to the deadline, 10 Cabinet ministers have complied and 40 vehicles have been returned.

Some of the ministers were still using their non-compliant vehicles on Thursday. Forestry minister Noah Wekesa parked his four-wheel-drive Toyota in front of the Nation Centre in downtown Nairobi and appeared oblivious of the curious stares he was getting from the public.

An official at the Treasury, who did not want to be quoted discussing his superiors, said any public official who wished to keep their big cars would have to get authority from either the President or the Prime Minister.

On non-compliance by the Office of the President, he said: "We believe they are going to surrender, including the Commissioner of Police who is an accounting officer. The next course of action cannot be disclosed now but it will be tough."

One idea being mooted is to give orders to the police boss to impound the vehicles wherever they are found.

Other Cabinet ministers who have complied with the policy to save tax money are Mr Joseph Nyaga (Co-operative Development), Mr Chirau Mwakwere (Transport), Mr Franklin Bett (Roads) and Mr William ole Ntimama (Heritage).

By Friday, CMC will have handed over 130 VW Passat saloon cars ready to be issued to top government officials on a one-official one-car basis.

The government has also ordered 30 seven-seater Land Rovers for ministers who have to do some fieldwork. The Passats cost Sh3.7 million each while the Land Rovers cost Sh4 million each under contract with CMC.

The Passat are ultra-modern vehicles with advanced security features.

Assistant ministers who on Thursday returned their cars were those for Environment, Tourism, Defence, Roads, Labour and Higher Education.

The permanent secretaries who complied included those from Information and Communication, Planning, Foreign Affairs, Regional Authorities and Industrialisation.

Ms Esther Koimet, the Investment Secretary and the Registrar of the High Court also complied.

The high-capacity vehicles ranged from Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Toyota Prado and Pajeros.

On Thursday, the Nation learnt that Parliament intends to question the Treasury on how the Passats were procured.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Boni Khalwale said Mr Kenyatta did not seek the authority of the House before buying the vehicles.

"In the last Budget, when we were debating votes for various ministries, Mr Uhuru removed money to buy cars.

"Now for him to spend Sh500 million, he should have sought Parliament's approval," Dr Khalwale said.

"We will be summoning him to tell us how the tendering was done. Was it open or single sourcing? We will also ask him if he has any special interests," he said.