The National Treasury has issued a proposal to limit vehicles allocated to government officials as part of the measures for economic austerity.

The proposals which seeks to regulate the management of government transportation while on official duty are included in the Government Transport Policy, 2024 drafted by Treasury CS John Mbadi.

In the proposed changes, each Cabinet Secretary will be provided with two vehicles, whereas each Principal Secretary, heads of Parastatals and Chief Executives  of independent offices and Commissions will be allocated one vehicle each.

The vehicles shall not exceed 2,600 CC for saloon cars and 3,000 CC for 4x4 utility vehicles.

Senior cadre officers will be facilitated from a pool of vehicles while commissioners of independent officers and members of parastatal boards will be required to seek reimbursement after using their private vehicles.

These vehicles will not exceed 2,400 CC for saloon cars and 3,000 CC for 4x4 utility vehicles.

In the county level, each Governor will be allocated two vehicles, while their deputies will have a vehicle each.

All County Executive Committee Members and chief officers will be given one vehicle while senior cadre officers will be facilitated from a pool of vehicles.

Vehicles purchased for officers on Job Group R and above (senior officers who are eligible for Business Class air travel), High Court Judges and State Corporation CEOs will not exceed 2,000 CC for saloon cars and 2,900 CC for 4x4 utility vehicles.

"Passenger utility vehicles above 3,000 CC are not allowed in government except specialised vehicles and for security purposes," the proposal read in part.

According to CS Mbadi, the government has been allocating billions of taxpayers' money to purchase new fleets of vehicles.

The budgetary allocation increased ffroma whooping Ksh.8.6 billion in 2021 to Ksh.9.7 billion in 2022 and Ksh.14.3 billion in 2023

Mbadi further pointed out that Ksh.12.2 billion was budgeted for in the year 2023/24 to purchase and maintain new vvehicles.

The policy also rejects the use of private number plates for government vehicles except for security vehicles.

According to Mbadi, any official seeking to use private plates on a government vehicle must seek approval from the Head of Public Service.