The Kenyan Senate Committee on Roads is demanding the contract and key documents for the multi-billion-shilling Bomas International Conference Centre (BICC) project. The committee, chaired by Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, wants the Ministry of Defence to provide it with the contract, procurement records, and project progress reports. This comes amid a division of responsibilities between the Ministries of Defence and Tourism over the project.
The Ministry of Defence is responsible for contracting and procurement, while the Ministry of Tourism retains ownership, marketing, and positioning Kenya as a major international conference destination. Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano appeared before the committee, stating that the Ministry of Defence was holding the contract despite her ministry having ownership rights over the project. Miano said the contracting function had been delegated to the Ministry of Defence.
The Senate committee requires comprehensive documentation to scrutinise the project, including the contract, procurement records, financing agreements, project budgets, and financial statements. The committee also wants invoices, payment and expenditure records, work plans, progress reports, project timelines, feasibility studies, and technical reports. Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua questioned why the Ministry of Tourism did not have custody of the key contractual documents.
Senator Wambua expressed concerns about the division of responsibilities between the two ministries, stating that it was unusual for one ministry to sign a contract with a contractor while another ministry tracked progress. Miano explained that the project was approved by Cabinet in 2023 when Bomas was under the Ministry of Culture and Gender, after which procurement responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministry of Tourism has a role in tourism development and marketing, while the Ministry of Defence is responsible for technical supervision and project management. Miano said her ministry's responsibility included ensuring the project progressed and coordinating its integration into international tourism calendars. The project aims to position Kenya as a premier meetings, incentives, and conferences destination.
Senators questioned the financial accountability arrangements, arguing that the Ministry of Tourism should have access to the contract because project funds were being channelled through its docket. Laikipia Senator John Kinyua stated that the transfer of procurement responsibilities to the Defence ministry did not remove the Tourism ministry's responsibility to account for the funds.
The committee may summon the Ministry of Defence to provide the required documents, with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya potentially being invited to provide the contract, procurement documents, and records showing the project's progress. The BICC project is intended to increase Kenya's capacity to host large international conferences and complement existing facilities such as the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Key points
- The Kenyan Senate is demanding the contract for the multi-billion-shilling Bomas International Conference Centre project amid a clash between the Ministries of Defence and Tourism over project oversight.
