MPs Cut Sh104 Million Meant for Kenya’s New York Embassy Facelift

Kenya’s diplomatic offices and residences in New York are set to remain in a dilapidated state after MPs cut funds meant for their renovation. 

In a mini-budget tabled in the House this week, MPs revised the recurrent budget for the Foreign Affairs ministry, cutting Sh104 million meant for the renovation of the Chancery in New York. They further cut Sh150 million set aside for the refurbishment of the Kenyan embassy in London, the United Kingdom.

These budget cuts will see taxpayers continue to pay millions of shillings annually to rent offices and residential space to accommodate the diplomatic missions. Kenyan diplomats in London and New York have been forced to rent houses and offices due to the aging and dilapidated offices.

In the year to June, Kenya’s total rental costs for diplomats’ homes and offices stood at a whooping Sh2.5 billion. In May, the Treasury indicated that Sh250 million was required to renovate the dilapidated and aging high commissioner’s residence in London and Sh200 million for New York homes and office. 

The slashes are part of the cutbacks by MPs to reduce the Supplementary Budget proposed by the Treasury from Sh80.1 billion to Sh50.57 billion, according to Business Daily.