The driver of NPP NAM allegedly absconded with a new Toyota Prado valued at D2.5M

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The driver for the ruling party lawmaker for Niamina West Constituency, Birom Sowe, has reportedly disappeared with the D2.5 million dalasi newly procured National Assembly luxurious Toyota Prado, sparking controversy. The incident occurred a few months ago, and there has been no trace of the driver and vehicle, a highly placed source within the National Assembly and the MP’s community told Alkamba Times.

In August 2023, despite the public outrage over purchasing a luxurious 2023 Toyota Prado model vehicle, MPs were handed the keys to the exotic cars at the National premises in Banjul.

Meanwhile, When TAT contacted the MP for comments, he refuted the allegations, describing them as ‘ False,’ but a colleague with knowledge of the issue confirmed that his colleague’s car had been missing for more than two months after the driver refused to return with the vehicle after an official engagement.

ruling party lawmaker for Niamina West Constituency, Birom Sowe

“Who gave you this false information? My car is not missing,” he told TAT when pressed to show evidence his official vehicle was not missing.

However, after asking further questions, the MP replied, “I told you I sent my driver. He will come back to me. I am also concerned that I sent my driver…”

Hon. Sowe won a by-election in 2020 under the NPP after the death of Opposition Gambia Democratic Party MP Demba Sowe.

Fifty-eight vehicles were procured at D2.5 million each, with the Gambia government paying half. Members are responsible for financing the remaining half of the car’s cost, over D1.2 million, from their salaries during their five tenures.

The controversial luxurious vehicle scheme has triggered a public outcry over the price of the vehicles that will be paid for by taxpayers. Considering the various challenges Gambians face, many believed the national assembly could procure a less expensive car (1 million) for NAMs that would not cost taxpayers much.

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Sainey M.K. Marenah
Mr. Sainey M.K. Marenah is a prominent Gambian journalist and the founding editor of The Alkamba Times. He previously held the position of Head of Communications at the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and served as a Communications and PR Consultant for The Gambia Pilot Program under Gamworks. Additionally, Mr. Marenah was the social media strategist and editor at Gambia Radio and Television Services and served as the Banjul Correspondent for Voice of America Radio. With a focus on human rights and developmental journalism, Mr. Marenah has established a significant presence in the Gambian media landscape, particularly in new media environments. His career began in 2008 as a junior reporter at The Point Newspaper, where he advanced to become Chief Correspondent. He later joined The Standard Newspaper in Banjul as Editorial Assistant and Head of News. Mr. Marenah is known for covering some of the most critical stories during the former and current administrations, including high-profile treason cases involving former military chiefs from 2009 to 2012. After his arrest and imprisonment by the previous regime of President Yahya Jammeh in 2014, he relocated to Dakar, Senegal, where he continues to work as a freelance journalist for various local and international media organizations, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, VOA, and ZDF TV in Germany. He is also a co-founder of the Banjul-based Media Center for Research and Development, an institution dedicated to research and development initiatives. As a journalist and communication expert dedicated to supporting the Gambia's transitional process, Mr. Sainey M.K. Marenah plays a significant role in developing a media and communications platform aimed at enhancing civic participation and raising awareness of the requirements for transitional governance. His efforts contribute to the country's ongoing movement toward democratization. In addition to his work in Gambia, Mr. Marenah has traveled extensively across Europe, Africa, and the United States as a professional journalist and has participated in various local and international media training programs. He is currently based in the United States.

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