Kenya's Ambassador in Geneva to Get Sh1.8 Billion New Residence

Kenya's ambassador in Geneva, Switzerland is set to get a new residence and office worth Sh1.8 billion.

Budget documents tabled at the National Assembly this month by the National Treasury indicate that Sh820 million has been allocated in the coming fiscal year for the purchase of chancery and ambassador’s residence in Geneva.

This is on top of the Sh1 billion set aside for the financial year ending this month.

In 2017, Kenya's Foreign Affairs ministry said it had identified the property in the posh resort city of Lake Geneva.

Members of Parliament had earlier questioned the high price of the property, citing pressing national issues and calls for austerity measures.

In defense, the ministry said the purchase was justifiable given the high cost of renting buildings in Geneva, which was ranked as the fourth most expensive city in the world in 2016.

Appearing in Parliament, Foreign Affairs ministry officials said Kenyan taxpayers spend Sh140 million annually for rent in Switzerland.

Comments

priorities wrongly placed,…

Maumauagain (not verified) Tue, 06/04/2019 @ 09:47am

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priorities wrongly placed, all this money for what? we should only have 3 embassies in europe at most, we need this money to build schools, power plants, industries for our youth to work in.... this an investment with no return at all, we want to have embassies in every country like we are a super power even when it does not make sense to do so. I smell corruption here, some crook kenyan elite bought the property and now selling to the government at a very steep price, trust me there is a scandal here...revolution now

Ksh 1.8 billion? Here we go…

Mugikuyu (not verified) Tue, 06/04/2019 @ 12:42pm

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Ksh 1.8 billion? Here we go again, inflating the cost so they can pocket the rest. Typical SGR scenerio. Why would they build the embassy in an expensive area anyway ? Do they market Kenya enough in Switzerland given that they are open for only 3 days? Do they give passports and Huduma number in a timely manner or they are busy picking their noses and asking for bribes?