Parliament is among State entities that owe the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Sh742 million that has remained unpaid for a long period.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy was shocked to learn that the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is among 328 public and private entities that owe KICC millions of shillings.
A list of entities tabled before the committee shows that the National Assembly owes Sh112 million while the Senate has not settled Sh8 million which has been outstanding for a long period. Parliament has leased office space at the KICC to cater for an increased number of senators and staff.
“This is a serious matter. How can Parliament, which has a huge budget, fail to clear its debt to KICC? We should call this a list of shame and Parliament should not be in any list of shame,” David Pkosing, who chairs the committee, said.
The bulk of the Sh742 million debt is owed by various government ministries and departments. The list tabled by acting KICC Chief Executive Patricia Ondeng shows that the 328 entities failed to pay for conference facilities.
The Public Service Transformation Department owes the KICC Sh22 million while the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Inspectorate of State Corporations each owes the KICC Sh21.5 million.
The ICT Authority has not settled Sh17.4 million, the Ministry of Devolution and Planning (Sh16.4 million), Nairobi City County (Sh15.9 million), Tintin Restaurant (Sh13.9 million), National Hospital Insurance Fund (Sh13.5 million), State Corporation Advisory Committee (Sh12.9 million), Ministry of Water and Irrigation (Sh11.8 million) and Performance Management and Coordination Department (Sh11 million).
“Most of the debts relate to unpaid conference facilities and services. We have written demand letters to all our debtors. Parliament knows that they owe us but it has not settled the debt,” Ms Ondeng said during the scrutiny of KICC books of accounts last week.
