National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has explained the stringent conditions the Ministry of Defense has set for the use of its choppers by senior government officials.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday over the matter, Ichung'wah said the Ministry of Defence was forced to institute the measures to tame runaway costs of operation.
"The Defence Cabinet Secretary (Aden Duale) did inform me that for the last one year, the aircraft used by the Deputy President, prime cabinet secretary and other senior government officials occasioned an expenditure of Sh500 million to KDF," Ichung'wah said.
According to Ichung'wah, KDF wrote to several offices whose top leadership used its aircraft seeking to have them share the cost but some wrote back declining to do so.
Ichung'wah said the runway cost forced KDF to regulate the use of its choppers to avoid further exp[expenditure.
"That is why the Kenya Defence Forces made a policy decision that should any official want to use the military aircraft, it must be on request," Ichung'wah said.
"Since all these offices have resources appropriated to them for air travel, you will pay for fuel and wear and tear since you have the budget."
The Majority Leader added that only the president who is the commander in chief of armed forces has unfettered access to use the military aircraft.
He said the officials have to request the use of aircraft through the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
"Both the Deputy President and the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, from what the Minister of Defence has informed me, may in writing ask for use of military aircraft," he said.
Recently, the travel arrangements of DP Rigathi Gachagua have been subjected to scrutiny with details emerging that he was being deliberately denied access to the KDF choppers.
His late arrival at Akurinu National Prayer Conference, in Nakuru, raised concerns about his travel issues.
The DP arrived, seemingly, using a price helicopter and further explained that he had travel issues.
The Prayer conference was graced by President William Ruto.
“Nilikuwa na matatizo with my transport arrangements, halafu ikaingia mambo ya hewa, nikachelewa kutoka…nikakwama pale kati ya Longonot na Naivasha karibu two hours ndo nikafika hapa,” he said.
Ichungwa Wednesday told the National Assembly that the Kenya Airforce Chopper used by the DP was undergoing maintenance.
"The Defence CS told me the Deputy President was assigned the police chopper which was being piloted by the Kenya Air Force personnel. The chopper is however still under maintenance," he said.
He added
"The Defence Cabinet Secretary tells me in the next few weeks they will have finalised the maintenance because it is not just a police aircraft maintained by the government. It is flown and operated by Kenya Airforce pilots and servicemen."