The tourism and hospitality stakeholders are asking for the release Sh1.9 billion meant for the completion of phase 1 of the multi-billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi county.
Phase 1 of the project, which started in 2010, has taken about 12 years.
The project’s initial cost was Sh4.9 billion, but due to delay and lack of funding on time, it will end up costing Sh11 billion once fully completed by next year.
Ronald Ngala Utalii College is one of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy projects in the coastal region.
The head of state is expected to open the facility before he leaves office in August.
It is expected to make its first intake before August.
On Wednesday, tourism stakeholders from the coast, including the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, Kenya Association of Tour Operators and Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya, toured the facility.
The asked President Kenyatta to intervene to ensure the funds are released by the Ministry of Tourism on time so that the project is completed by July.
KAHC Coast executive director Sam Ikwaye said the college will help train tourism professionals and also turn around the economy of Kilifi and the Coast region at large.
“However, the delay in completion of this project is a big concern for us in the tourism profession. As a country, we are losing a lot of money due to the delays being experienced in this project,” he said.
He said they have credible reports the government released funds last December for the completion of phase 1 of the project, but the money is yet to be released to the Tourism Fund.
Diani Sea Resort manager Pauline Nduva said they are concerned over the duration it has taken to complete the project.
“It has been a very long time since the work began at this site. We are hopeful that the project will be ready by August to witness the first intake,” she said.
Eden Odhiambo, a director of research and resource mobilisation at the Tourism Fund, said the entire project is now 75 per cent complete.
“Currently, one of the major problems has been the financing of this project. However, the government has promised to release some funds through the Tourism Promotion Fund, which should see us meet the target,” he said.
He further said the first phase requires at least Sh1 billion to be completed fully and an additional Sh2.1 billion will be required for the entire project to be completed.
“Initially the project was to cost Sh4.9 billion and that was way back in 2013, but that did not happen because of lack of funding,” he said.
“The cost went high because of the prices of material and equipment. For example, the prices of aluminium have gone up by 300 per cent, and cement increased by almost 100 per cent. Therefore, the cost really had to change.”
He said the project was started in 2010 when the consultant came to the site and started the design, but the contractor’s work started in 2013.
The first phase was to be completed within five years and be ready by 2018, but it has been delayed by four more years.
In the first phase, the college will have an administration block, two tuition blocks, a state-of-the-art kitchen facility, a dining room and one block for the hostels.
Phase 2 of the project is expected to have a students’ library, students centre, additional hostel block, staff quarters and a multi-purpose hall with a capacity of 5,000 people.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
