Revealed: State spent Sh1.9 billion to renovate KICC ahead of Africa Climate Summit

The government spent Sh1.9 billion to renovate the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) ahead of the inaugural African Summit in September 2023. This is contrary to reports that the renovations gobbled up Sh3.2billion.

The development comes even as KICC Chief Executive Officer James Mwaura disclosed that the facility makes Sh200 million in profit every.

Mwaura spoke when he appeared before the Senate National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration Committee on Monday.

The renovations involved the refurbishment of various conference rooms, hallways, pavements, and flower gardens Mwaura told the panel chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute that although the facility only makes Sh200 million in profits after tax, it has the potential to make more than Sh700 million per year in profits.

In addition, the premier conference facility has approved a procurement plan for the financial year 2024-25 to the tune of Sh634.65million.

“KICC was renovated for Sh1.9 billion. This was like a total overhaul of the facility. This amount was paid by the Tourism Promotion Fund,” Mwaura said.

The senators, however, demanded to know why the management allowed the painting of the historical building to different colours.

“Can a client be allowed to interfere with the original painting of the historical building? The mess that was done by the military is terrible,” Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah posed.

However, Mwaura clarified that the State Corporation allows clients to foot such renovations to suit their taste, adding that the client in this case was the government that sought the renovation to host the Africa Climate Summit.

“Africa Climate Summit had some specifications of what they wanted. In this case, it was the government that was the client. We could not refuse, and the renovation was done by the military,” Mwaura said.

Established under the Tourism Act 2011, KICC’s mandate is to promote the business of meetings, conferences, and exhibitions.

For KICC to meet its full potential in revenue growth, Mwaura told the Senators that they are in the process of installing Dancing Fountains, which will reinforce KICC’s commitment to offering world-class experiences.

According to Mwaura, the fountains will be designed with cutting-edge technology, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence, enabling the water jets to move in perfect harmony with traditional and contemporary Kenyan music.

“The fountains will attract both local and international visitors and boost Nairobi’s profile as a global tourism and conference destination,” charged Mwaura.

He further explained that the aim of the project is to provide an exceptional experience for delegates attending conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events, serving as an additional attraction, and offering a visually stunning and culturally immersive experience.

Mwaura added: “The KICC tower is set to be transformed into a digital advertising platform, providing businesses with a high-visibility space to highlight their brands.”

Last year, the MPs launched investigations into claims that the government spent Sh3.2 billion to renovate KICC ahead of the Climate Summit.