Kenya Needs over Ksh233 Million to Fix Crumbling Embassy Properties in Paris

The government faces a repair bill of at least Ksh233.98 million to restore deteriorating diplomatic properties in Paris, a parliamentary oversight committee has revealed.

According to an August 2026 report by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, years of neglected maintenance and budget deficits have left Kenya’s chancery and official residence in France in disrepair.

The findings follow an inspection tour of Kenyan missions in France and the United Kingdom conducted by lawmakers between April 7 and April 15, 2026.

In Paris, the committee visited the embassy chancery and the official residence on April 8 and April 9, where they were hosted by Kenya's Ambassador to France, Betty Cherwon.

Lawmakers found that the chancery, which Kenya acquired in 1997, has suffered extensive wear and tear due to gaps in routine maintenance. The building has structural cracks, blocked drainage, and a damp basement.

Full repairs for the chancery will cost approximately Ksh145.98 million, based on estimates submitted by contractors.

"Estimates for full repairs received from various companies show that at least Ksh145 million would be needed to address the issues raised by the inspection team," the committee noted in its report.

An earlier technical assessment had already flagged the building's condition. Between May 17 and May 20, 2024, an inspection team comprising the Director General for Administration and public works officials visited Paris at the mission's request.

"In their report, the team highlighted structural issues and other areas of concern that need to be addressed," the parliamentary document said.

The ambassador's official residence in Vésinet is also in poor shape and requires substantial renovations estimated at a minimum of Ksh88 million.

These mounting repair costs come amid severe cash flow constraints at the Paris mission. During the financial year under review, the embassy recorded a budget shortfall of roughly Ksh63.3 million, alongside Ksh5.16 million in foreign exchange losses.

Nearly 90 percent of the funds disbursed to the Paris mission go toward non-negotiable contractual obligations, leaving almost nothing for routine upkeep or daily operations.

The financial strain extends across the English Channel to the Kenyan High Commission in London, which MPs inspected from April 11 to April 13, 2026.

At the mission's chancery at 45 Portland Place, lawmakers documented aging infrastructure requiring urgent electrical, plumbing, heating, and fire safety maintenance.

The London mission's operations have been further slowed by delayed exchequer releases, high British labor and service costs, and currency exchange losses.

Despite the funding deficits, the committee confirmed one positive milestone in the United Kingdom. Kenya successfully acquired the official residence at 78 Winnington Road as a freehold property, securing permanent ownership and ending a previous 999-year leasehold arrangement.