The government of Kenya is planning to buy top of the range vehicles and luxury homes for visiting VIPs and presidents.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the acquisition of these mansions and luxury vehicles will cut the government’s reliance on five-star hotels. It will also offer the guarantee on availability of accommodation for the foreign dignitaries.
“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 Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo said in a report to Parliament.
“Further, the ministry intends to acquire protocol/ceremonial vehicles-Specifics for vehicles to include provision for flag pendants,” Omamo added.
She said that the protocol vehicles will be stationed on the airside of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for use in the movement of very-very important persons (VVIPS) and very important persons (VIPs) from flights to lounges and protocol officers 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),” Omamo said.
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She lamented that her ministry does not have suitable vehicles to be stationed at the airside. “There is also inadequate dedicated transport for senior staff, local errands and to ferry staff and goods which hampers service delivery of the ministry.”