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A newly released parliamentary report has exposed the sorry physical state of Kenya's foreign missions and residences of ambassadors in different foreign countries.
The report reveals how embassies in the United States, including New York and Washington, DC have turned old and dilapidated due to lack of maintenance.
The report prepared by Parliament's Defence and Foreign Relations Committee which is chaired by Katoo Ole Metito particularly singled out the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC and the Permanent Mission in New York.
The team compiled the document after conducting visits to Kenya’s permanent missions in Viena Austria, Russia, Washington DC, Los Angeles Consular, Kenya High Commission in Ottawa, Canada and embassies in South Korea, China and Japan.
The committee described the premises hosting the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC as "greatly deteriorated with passage of time and in comparison with neighbouring structures, it stands out as neglected."
“The wooden windows have deteriorated with passage of time and battering by elements of weather and require to be replaced with modern aluminum glazed windows. This being a historical building, care must be taken to preserve the nature of facades,” the committee said.
“The iron sheet roof and supporting structure had deteriorated extensively and there was evidence of general leakages. Gutters and down water pipes were extensively corroded. Most of the ceilings have evidence of previous damages associated with leakages from the roof,” the report further reads.
The building housing the Washington, DC embassy was constructed in 1930’s and the committee has recommended funds be set aside for its refurbishment.
On the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, the house team suggests the ministry of Foreign Affairs renovates or demolishes it and set up more houses for the staff to save on high rent the mission is currently incurring in renting apartments.
Kenyan mission at the UN in Geneva have often had their salaries delayed due to delays by the Treasury to disburse funds on time, the report says.
“The mission (Geneva) has not been able to replace unserviceable furniture and equipment both at the chancery and in the staff houses, and most officers live in unfavourable conditions,” adds the report.
The committee visited the embassies between April 19th and June 22nd, 2018.
Comments
All these Embassies know is Throwing MADARAKA and Makadhalika Holiday(s) PARTIES. Entertainment! Entertainment!! Entertainment!!!
What you need to address is that we is the money that are continuously being generated by these embassies going to? Every year after annual's fiscal audits, Kenya embassies in US have failed to account for millions of money missing, where do they take the money? Our passports renewal fees just quadrupled, why? Same chronic metastatic deep rooted and systemic corruption originating form kenya. Here is just but a few https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000216768/kenya-embassy-staff-…
Lol..no wonder the diaspora in the US of A are being overcharged for renewing passports than any other diaspora folks in the world.
Overcharged Majuus for CORRUPTION (into their Fat Pockets).
Staff houses in NY?
I just wonder why we should even think of embassies abroad which help nobody yet we can't afford to establish ICU facilities for BAGATHI,MAMA LUCY and expanding PUMWANI and MATHARE hospitals in Nairobi.It's better most of these embassies are closed(starting with Washington one) so their budgetary allocations are directed to buying medicines and medical equipment.
Watumiwe Mafundi kutoka kenya warenovate thiz houses.Or But container houses which are cheaper to maintain n build juu this is another corruption which will start renovating this buildings.
All those Kenya's Embassies should be closed down. We do not need them. We have copied the West in establishing Embassies with no goals. If they ( Embassies)are just to issue visas, we should have a part-time desk being run by a student. God help Kenya!!!
Ni za mbule kabisa.FUNGA YOTE.
I just visited there last month and I believe Hunduma Center in Kenya are better than Washington office.
Working about half mile from the embassy and seeing it everyday I wonder where they got their facts from. More importantly moneys are needed more back home for basic needs than renovating an imaginary issue abroad
@xG: Asante sana kwa kututumia makala inayotupatia taarifa juu ya visa 2,000 kupotea.
Kwa nini Mkenyareza Ndugu Robinson Njeru Githae ambaye ni balozi wa Kenya katika nchi ya Marekani hajatimuliwa kazini baada ya shilingi zilizopatikani baada ya kutoa visa 2,000 kupotea au kuibiwa?
I agree with the findings. I have just visited the Washington embassy and his homestead this summer and I can concur with your findings that these houses are in a sorry state. To be precise it does not portray a good picture to visitors. The ambassadors house some of the fixtures and kitchen in particular need a complete make over. I am sure allocating someone to take care of this buildings and houses will be in order to cut down the bureaucracy that goes with the funding.