MPs probe claims of importation of accident cars
By Mercy Mwai, August 7, 2025Lawmakers have summoned officials of three government agencies over the award of a multi-billion-shilling tender for the pre-inspection of goods following allegations that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) allowed importation of accident vehicles.
The trio will be required to clarify the role that will be played by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) or any other agency in relation to vehicle document verification.
Those summoned include Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana, Kebs Managing Director Esther Ngari and Dr Walter Ongeti, the CEO Kenya Accreditation Services (KENAS).
MPs who sit in the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee are seeking details of how the multi-billion shilling Pre-Export Verification Conformity (PVOC) tender, for the year 2025-2028, was awarded to a Japanese firm- Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ).
Document verification
The QISJ, TUV Austria Turk and TIC Quality Control, was among 19 firms that submitted bids for the tender to provide document verification services for imported used vehicles.
Committee chairperson and Shinyalu MP Bernard Shinali made it clear that the committee had commenced investigations. He said: “We want to know how accident cars get into the country under the guise of imported used cars yet we have quality control measures in place.”
Shinali said that the committee got aware of the matter after Kebs published a notice dated July 8, 2025 in local dailies where it defended the decision to bring on board QISJ.
In its notice, KeBS informed the public that it had engaged QISJ to carry out validation of import documents to determine the age of used motor vehicles before importation.
Added Shinali: “This has happened at a time when there is a general outcry on the rising cost of living.
The committee said that they will be investigating the procurement process and engagement of QISJ, accreditation and technical competence, role of other government agencies and coordination, the legislative framework and the impact on trade facilitation.
Further, they will be seeking to establish the criteria that led to the selection of QISJ and whether other local or international firms were considered.
It will also investigate whether QISJ has been formally accredited by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) “or any other recognized accreditation body”.
In addition, the committee will also be seeking to establish whether they are a mechanism to solve disputes in the case of an adverse finding made by QISJ that is inconsistent with the information available to an importer at purchase.