MPs question Ministry of Defence’s role in Sh31.6 billion Bomas of Kenya facelift
The Wildlife and Tourism Committee, led by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, expressed frustration over being left out of the loop while the Ministry of Defence manages a project under the Tourism Ministry’s mandate.
Members of Parliament have raised questions about the involvement of the Ministry of Defence in the ongoing Sh31.6 billion facelift of Bomas of Kenya.
The Ministry of Defence is reportedly carrying out the renovation works, a situation MPs say needs greater scrutiny to avoid repeating previous problems encountered during the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) revamp.
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The Wildlife and Tourism Committee, led by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, expressed frustration over being left out of the loop while the Ministry of Defence manages a project under the Tourism Ministry’s mandate.
MPs said they were unaware of the terms of engagement with the Defence Ministry or how the procurement was handled.
Kareke emphasised the need for transparency, stating, “Please, CS, tell us what is happening. Your people are only keen on engaging us during the budget process, but during the implementation process, they pass us. We only see projects being launched in high-profile events where the president is involved, and we are in the dark.”
MPs Abdi Ali (Ijaara) and Innocent Mugambe (Likuyani) recalled the challenges faced during the KICC renovations, which were also overseen by the Ministry of Defence.
They warned that similar difficulties could arise if full disclosure and parliamentary oversight are not ensured.
“There are a lot of works ongoing at Bomas of Kenya, and as the oversight committee, we don’t know what is going on. We should not take this lightly; we must be provided with information,” Mugambe said.
The legislators asked Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano to provide details of the agreements with the Ministry of Defence, including scope, funding, and procurement process, to confirm that public funds are properly managed.
CS Miano acknowledged the committee’s concerns and said she would share the information.
She explained that the project’s financing was shifted from the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage to the Tourism Ministry following an executive order and that the handover process was ongoing.
“We have taken note of the members’ concerns both for the Tourism Promotion Fund and Bomas of Kenya, which has now been domiciled in our ministry, and we are in the process of handing over,” the CS said.
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