Kenya Gov’t Seeks to Buy Guesthouses and Luxury Cars for Visiting Presidents and VIPs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested parliament to allocate it funds for the purchase guesthouses for visiting presidents and other foreign dignitaries.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo in a report to parliament says the move is aimed at cutting the cost of hotel accommodation and ensure availability of lodging for foreign dignitaries.
The ministry is also seeking to acquire limousines and other luxury cars for local travel of VIP State guests.
"The ministry seeks to acquire suitable guesthouses for high-level dignitaries visiting the country. This will cut costs of hotel accommodation and ensure there is always availability of accommodation and reduce dependency on hotels. This will also ensure security and confidentiality," the report reads as quoted by Business Daily.
The government spends millions of shillings on reception and accommodation of visiting guests at five-star hotels such as Villa Rosa Kempinski, where a presidential suite costs about Sh1.74 million ($15,000) and goes for Sh578,500 ($5,000) per night, as per rates posted on its website.
Omamo did not disclose the budget and the number of guesthouses and luxury vehicles the ministry plans to acquire in the plan tabled in parliament for review.
She indicated that the ministry intents to buy ceremonial or protocol vehicles complete with provision for flag pendants.
The protocol vehicles will be stationed on the airside of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to chauffeur very-very important persons (VVIPS) and very important persons (VIPs) from flights to lounges and protocol offices during the meet-and-greet duty.
"The ministry has a large fleet of old vehicles hence increased maintenance costs. In addition, unlike in other international airports, JKIA does not have protocol cars stationed within the tarmac area/airside to facilitate VVIPs and VIPs on arrival and departure (boarding and disembarking)," said Omamo.
"There is also inadequate dedicated transport for senior staff, local errands and to ferry staff and goods which hampers service delivery of the ministry."
Comments
This is another way to steal…
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This is another way to steal govt funds. If it passes, when there are no visitors these will be used by politicians mpango wa kando’s paid for by the taxpayers.🤷🏽♂️
Bullcrap bullshit ideas.I…
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Bullcrap bullshit ideas.I have empty appartments 25 minutes away from nairobi u can come b renting them for them idiots or also have free 2 acres which is empty in ndeiya kikuyu they can put tents to b camping there idiots.
Well now you go from 1/4…
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In reply to Bullcrap bullshit ideas.I… by Mkenya halisi (not verified)
Well now you go from 1/4 acre where you keep 5 jumped cows to empty apartments to 2 acres. You sound like WSR when he stole Mzee Muteshi farm. Is there any good idea meant to be cost savings that you like? Kubafu wewe…
Total BS
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Total BS
How often are this Very Very…
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How often are this Very Very Important persons coming to Kenya and don't they have have their own embassies in Kenya? Why should Kenyans foot their bill?
Another cash cow in the…
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Another cash cow in the making.
This is nonsense. Foreign…
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This is nonsense. Foreign leaders pay for their expenses when they visit Kenya.
Hold your fire folks. Let…
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Hold your fire folks. Let Rachel Omamo show us that it is cheaper to buy luxury homes for "dignitaries" than to rent weekly or daily hotel rooms for them.Need cost benefit analysis for all to see. After all its "our money".Are they coming to live in Kenya?
Besides that, isn't the reason Mpigs earn exorbitant benefits and salary to partly carter to such needs in their palatial homes...? You can only drive one car at a time...or sleep in one bed at atime...I think? Let's live within our means,and stop this nonsense of overburdening tax payers for unnecessary expenses.Already cost of living is pretty high to the average man, woman, and child.
Let sanity reign.Please cast your vote for the right candidate. If you dont see one,just hold on to your vote till one comes along.
Sisi wananchi are always…
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Sisi wananchi are always suspicious when we hear of such proposals because there is never any transparency. My question is, ni waheshimiwa gani watatumia hiyo project ili wakule?
Priorities like all the time…
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Priorities like all the time is misplaced. This is yet another corruption slot being created. These cars and houses will end up either being rented out while the Vvip will still stay in hotels or parted out to be sold for a buck.
If that money is available, feed your starving population instead of waiting to entertain foreign visitors. Let them be the ones to bring the money for their own use.
Steal stealing Uhuru for…
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Steal stealing Uhuru for campaign money then blame Ruto consistently. Just use VIP uber and VIP airbnb.. People are dying of hunger and insecurity. Those poor lives matter.
this is a JOKE A JOKE A JOKE…
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this is a JOKE A JOKE A JOKE . IS OMAMO KIDDING?? so this is one of the last steal. visiting presidents i.e UK and USA stay at their ambassador's home for mainly security reason. having specific guest house is very risky they will be targeted by terrorist
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