The government of Kenya doesn’t know who the KICC landlord is. This has been revealed by the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu. According to Gathungu, the land where the Sh. 2.2 billion iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre building stands is not registered in the government’s name. At the same time, individuals who own the piece of land are not known. “It has also been noted that the land in which Kenyatta International Convention Centre building stands is not registered in the name of the Corporation although its value has been included in the financial statements,” Ms. Gathungu said.
The auditor general in her report said that the building which includes 28 storeys is currently classified as a state corporation under the Ministry of Tourism. However, the ownership of its title deed has remained in dispute ever since the Kenya African National Union party (KANU) was kicked out of the building.
The building, whose current chief executive officer is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s niece Nana Gechaga, also risks having its assets attached over an outstanding Sh. 450 million tax bill owed to the Kenya Revenue Authority. The bill includes a tax brought forward of Sh. 22 million, reconciled tax by KRA of Sh. 413.5 million and tax due of Sh. 14 million in the financial year 2018-19.
“The failure to pay tax when due could attract penalties and interest. There is also a likelihood of the corporation assets being attached,” the auditor said in her latest report.
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Gathungu has further questioned the authenticity of pending bills accrued by the corporation to the tune of Sh. 928 million as of June 2019. Part of the bills is Sh. 686 million, being Sh. 430 million potential liability for services KICC contracted to host the World Trade Organisation conference and Sh. 255 million on WTO related expenses.