Nation Reporter,Nairobi

The Government has been sued over a Sh195 million debt for furniture used by former President Daniel Moi.

Furncon Ltd says it has not been paid since September, 1992, when it designed, made and delivered two Presidential chairs, stools, mace table rest and holder and a consignment of other furniture meant for VIP use at state functions.


In its pleadings filed at the High Court in Nairobi, the firm says it won the tender floated by the Department of Defence and later got approval from State House.

Approval given

In order for the furniture to join other insignias of the Republic of Kenya, approval was given by the tender board later assented to by then President Moi himself.

The firm was asked to make more such furniture for presidential lounges at the Eldoret Moi Airbase and Kahawa Garrison, the company claims.

After making the items meant for Kahawa Garrison, the company says it was asked to deliver them to the Agricultural Society of Kenya offices in Nairobi for a three-day presidential function.

Collect furniture

But the President ordered that the furniture remain at the ASK offices.
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Although Mr Moi used the items for a year, Furncon explains that the ASK later wrote to it, advising it to collect the furniture.

Furncon managing director Solomon Njoroge Kiore was later called to a meeting at DoD and advised to go to State House for payment. However, he was sent back to DoD on the grounds that it was the DoD that had made such payments in the past.

Furncon wants a declaration that the ownership of the items passed on to the Government in September, 1992, under the National Flag, Emblems and Names Act