Empty container to Kenya’s Parliament: Chinese Embassy seeks answers

By Anthony Mwangi.

The issue of the empty container which was to deliver computers and other accessories to Parliament remained a mystery after it emerged that it was scanned on arrival at Inland Container Depot in Embakasi and confirmed to have  been empty.

The new development surfaced even as the Chinese embassy in Kenya expressed its concerns over the alleged theft and welcomed the intervention of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to unearth the puzzle.

And yesterday a source privy to the investigations said spies were probing beyond normal theft and were exploring other reasons which cannot be made public at this point.

Handle matter

“We notice that the National Assembly has informed the DCI to handle the matter, and believe that with the professionalism of the investigator this matter will be resolved and the equipment recovered with their intervention. With unswerving commitment to the bilateral friendship, the Chinese side will continue to support  our Kenyan brothers and sisters,” read a statement from the Chinese embassy in Nairobi. 

A source who is directly involved in the investigations told People Daily that the 20-foot container had contents weighing only 233kgs, which included 46 laptops, five projectors and four photo cameras.

“The container upon being scanned on exit looked empty and logistics clearing agent checked with Chinese Embassy and logistics forwarding offices in China as this is a requirement through Bill of Lading booked by China,” added the source.

Investigators are also probing reports that the driver of the truck and his loader were told to continue with the delivery as the consignment was so small it might not have been picked up by the scanners.

Officers from the DCI were yesterday holed up in a meeting with the parliamentary staff as the probe commenced.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Michael Sialai while confirming that the container tagged “diplomatic goods” was delivered on Tuesday July 30 as expected but after the seals were opened it was found to be empty, said the National Assembly will work with investigators to uncover the mystery.

Goods listed

The goods listed as laptops and computer projectors were a donation from the National People’s Congress of China and the consignment was to be delivered through the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.

Sialai said the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi contracted a company identified as M/S Bollore Africa Transport & Logistics Ltd to deliver the consignment.