Cabinet rift over Sh4.5 billion Bomas upgrade exposes Ruto government divisions

Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebbecca Miano (left) and National Treasury CS John Mbadi who are in disagreement over a Sh4.5 billion allocation for the renovation of Bomas of Kenya. (Photo: Ministry of Tourism & National Treasury)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Mbadi wants the Tourism department to ring-fence the Sh4.5 billion for the upgrade, a move Miano is uncomfortable with because the facility falls outside her ministry.

A clash between two Cabinet Secretaries over a Sh4.5 billion allocation for the renovation of Bomas of Kenya has brought to light divisions in President William Ruto’s Cabinet.

National Treasury CS John Mbadi and Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebbecca Miano are at odds, and MPs are now demanding answers about the project’s financing.

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Mbadi wants the Tourism department to ring-fence the Sh4.5 billion for the upgrade, a move Miano is uncomfortable with because the facility falls outside her ministry.

The National Assembly Tourism and Wildlife Committee has blocked the funds pending clarification.

“We have since invited the two CSs to shed light in terms of the financing of Bomas of Kenya. As we sit here, there are absolutely no funds that we have approved towards the Bomas of Kenya renovation,” committee chairperson and Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki told the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Appearing before the Tourism Committee last week, Miano disclosed that the National Treasury issued a directive to ring-fence the money from the Tourism Promotion Fund (TPF), a move she has questioned.

“We received a letter from the National Treasury about the ring-fencing of the funds. I have requested the National Treasury CS for a meeting to understand the contents of the letter. Allow me to report back once I have heard from him,” she told the committee.

MP Mbiuki said TPF had not been allowed to spend any funds.

“That is why we decided to summon the two CSs to shed light on the matter. The committee will ensure that the law is followed in the transfer of funds from one ministry to another,” he added.

The Bomas renovation is reportedly to be funded through a public-private partnership with Turkish firm Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Sirketi at Sh31.6 billion.

But the Tourism committee was surprised to learn from Miano that Bomas is under the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, according to Executive Order No.2 of 2023.

“We in the Tourism and Wildlife Committee decided that we keep our hands out of that matter. This issue of cross-transfer of funds can only be done under proper guidance and through requisite documentation, like memoranda of understanding between the two ministries. As of now, there exists none,” Tongaren MP John Chikati said.

Meanwhile, key tourism department projects are struggling, with the Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi, which was launched in 2009 to ease pressure on Nairobi’s Utalii College, still being incomplete due to funding delays.

The Tourism Research Institute is also underfunded, despite the tourism sector generating Sh452.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to Sh560 billion.

“Why surrender all its available resources to finance the Bomas of Kenya renovations? Was it a priority in the first place?” Mbiuki asked.