MPs reject Sh150 million request for Bomas of Kenya staff relocation
The PS further told the committee that the department had been allocated Sh3.54 billion for the Financial Year 2025-2026 against its requirement of Sh5.98 billion.
The State Department for Culture, Arts and Heritage has been dealt a blow after the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture rejected a request for Sh150 million to relocate staff at Bomas of Kenya.
The department had sought the funds to facilitate the temporary movement of employees to allow for the planned facelift of the facility.
The committee, chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama on Monday, dismissed the request as unnecessary and a potential avenue for misuse of public funds.
Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir, who was presenting the 2025 Budget Policy Statement, explained that the reconstruction of Bomas of Kenya was being funded by a donor, and staff relocation was necessary to facilitate the project.
"Relocation of staff to new temporary offices as the construction works would be going on requires Sh150 million. We request the Committee to intervene and have the money allocated to the department to fund the process," Bashir stated.
However, the committee turned down the request, questioning the amount and the lack of a detailed breakdown.
"The amount you requested was too much. Have you identified offices where you want to move your staff to? What is the breakdown of the relocation exercise?" Wanyama posed.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi argued that the contractor undertaking the Bomas of Kenya facelift should cover relocation costs.Flaw
"Whoever won the tender for the reconstruction of Bomas of Kenya should undertake the relocation of staff at his expense," Omondi stated.
Budgetary allocation
The PS further told the committee that the department had been allocated Sh3.54 billion for the Financial Year 2025-2026 against its requirement of Sh5.98 billion.
"The allocation consists of Sh3.45 billion for recurrent expenditure and sh90 million for development," Bashir explained.
Committee members criticised the department's decision to allocate only a small portion of its budget to development.
"Why allocate Sh90 million out of more than Sh3 billion for development? What are your priorities as a department?" posed MP Mary Emaase.
Bashir also revealed that the Treasury had failed to allocate the Sh50 million requested for the establishment of a Heroes Fund to honour national heroes like the late broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela.
Meanwhile, State Department for Sports PS Peter Tum, in his budget statement, said the department had received Sh1.58 billion, an increase from the Sh1.46 billion initially requested.
"The department had requested Sh1.46 billion, but the amount was revised to Sh1.58 billion by the National Treasury," Tum stated.
He added that Sh72 million of the additional funds were allocated to the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, while Ksh50 million went to the Kenya Academy of Sports.
State Department for Youth and Creative Economy PS Ismail Madey told the committee that the Film Services Programme had been allocated Sh738.7 million, with Sh662 million set for recurrent expenditure and Sh76.7 million for development.
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