MPs will today embark on a week-long inspection of flagship projects under the Ministry of Wildlife, Tourism and Heritage.
Members of the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife will be accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Peninah Malonza.
Principal Secretaries Silvia Museiya (Wildlife) and John Lekakeny Ololtuaa (Tourism) will also be on the team.
The team led by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki is scheduled to visit infrastructural projects as well as make a stopover at government hotels and lodges that have been put on sale in Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale and Taita-Taveta counties.
On Monday, the committee will be in Kilifi county, where they are scheduled to visit The Wildlife Research Centre in Malindi as well as assess the construction of the multi-billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo.
Of interest to the committee, will be Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo project whose initial cost was Sh4.9 billion, but due to delays, it will end up costing close to Sh11 billion. As of December 2022, the college was 77.74 per cent complete.
When completed, some 3,000 students are expected to graduate from the college annually.
“Once complete, Ronald Ngala Utalii College will not only offer top-notch hospitality training but also turn around the economy of Kilifi County and the Coast region at large,” Ololtuaa told the Committee as he defended the ministry expenditure on the project.
On Tuesday, the committee will tour projects in Mombasa city. The projects include Bamburi Beach Operators Market and Mama Ngina Waterfront.
Further, the Committee will visit Cruise-ship Terminal on Wednesday and inspect Shimba Hills Breeding Sanctuaries for endangered species.
On Thursday the committee will be in Taita Taveta county. The team will visit Voi Safari Lodge in Tsavo East National Park and Wildlife Research Centre in Tsavo West National Park.
On Friday, the committee will visit Ngulia Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park.
