National Assembly freezes Sh4.5bn for Bomas renovations, questions priorities
At the heart of the controversy is a directive from National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, which set aside Sh4.5 billion from the fund to renovate the Bomas of Kenya, a project already funded by Turkish firm Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Sirketi to the tune of Sh31.6 billion.
A standoff has emerged in Parliament over the allocation of Sh4.5 billion from the Tourism Promotion Fund for the renovation of Bomas of Kenya.
The National Assembly Tourism and Wildlife Committee has halted the approval of the 2025/26 budget for the Tourism Fund, demanding clearer explanations on how the funds are being utilised.
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At the heart of the controversy is a directive from National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, which set aside Sh4.5 billion from the fund to renovate the Bomas of Kenya, a project already funded by Turkish firm Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Sirketi to the tune of Sh31.6 billion.
This has raised concerns among MPs, who question why additional funds are needed for the renovation when the project is already covered.
“The Tourism Promotion Fund is meant to support tourism development, not projects that fall outside our mandate,” said Kareke Mbiuki, chair of the committee.
“We are not prepared to approve the budget until we have a clear understanding of the programmes that these funds will support,” he added.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano also voiced concerns, revealing that she had sought clarification from her counterpart, CS Mbadi, regarding the directive.
In her testimony before the committee, she expressed unease over the allocation, stating, “I have raised these concerns with the Treasury.”
In addition, the committee expressed dissatisfaction that Bomas of Kenya, a State agency, falls under the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage, not the Ministry of Tourism, as expected.
The situation was further complicated by the fact that the Tourism Promotion Fund is struggling to meet the financial needs of critical tourism institutions.
One such institution is the Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi County, a hospitality training facility that has faced delays and funding shortfalls.
Originally expected to be completed by 2019, the college remains unfinished more than a decade later, despite being a key component in expanding hospitality training in the region.
The committee also highlighted underfunding within the Tourism Research Institute, which is tasked with analysing tourism data and trends.
Despite tourism being the third-largest source of government revenue after agriculture and diaspora remittances, these key agencies continue to struggle.
In 2023, tourism earnings totalled Sh452.2 billion, with projections of a rise to Sh560 billion this year, according to Treasury data. MPs now want greater transparency in how funds are allocated and spent within the sector.
“We need to understand the priorities of the government. Why are we using funds meant for tourism development on a project that is already being financed by a private company?” Mbuki questioned.
The National Assembly committee has made it clear that it will not approve the Tourism Promotion Fund budget for 2025/26 until it receives more detailed information about the projects it is financing.
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