Cuzo ya Gatheca -Nana Gecaga ameamua to literally live on legacy ya Kenyatta
Kenya’s iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) has been hit by financial impropriety that has seen it accumulate more than Sh500 million in debtsnow threatening to bring it down.
The revered architectural marvel is starring at a myriad of fiscal missteps that has driven it’s financial health to the red.
The convention centre is viciously fighting to ward off attempts by incensed firms who have moved to court to have its properties auctioned to offset debts dating back to 2015. Documents in our possession reveal that the firms are demanding more than Sh570 million of the Sh701 million in debt accrued from the World Trade Organisation meeting held at the centre in December 2015.Three weeks ago, KICC’s legal team went to court to block one of the companies from auctioning its property.
Accrued interest
Part of the clients and suppliers who have moved to court include Mo Sound, which is demanding Sh54.7 million plus interest. Another firm, Green Star, is asking for Sh60 million for supplying and setting up equipment during the WTO opening ceremony.
Yesterday, KICC Chief Executive Officer Nana Gecaga admitted that the building had not paid suppliers but blamed the delay on failure by the previous management to ensure there was proper documentation. “I have not refused to pay. I want to make the payments within the confines of the law. I have sought a legal opinion from the Attorney General and the Auditor General is also here to check on the books. We have the money, we are only waiting for direction from the government’s legal adviser,” said Ms Gecaga.
But the management of the most recognisable building in Kenya is in the eye of the storm for blowing up Sh25 million allocated to host two American R&B groups, SWV and Backstreet Boyz, internal audit queries reveal. Minutes of a board meeting on August 4, 2016 reveal that Ms Gecaga convinced the board to sanction the expenditure of Sh15 million to host the two groups but ended up spending Sh10 million above what was allocated.
It is understood that Gecaga persuaded the board that the centre would generate Sh45 million from the concert in line with the strategy to elevate KICC as premier conference and events centre in Africa.
However, the Auditor General report indicates that not a single coin trickled down to KICC accounts despite the Sh25 million investment.
“We have been on the first phase of marketing KICC as the destination of choice in Africa and globally. In this phase, we have invited several local and international artists to perform. Little at now is being generated, but we will achieve a lot in the next phase,” Gecega explained. Under the second phase, she said, the centre will not be using promoters and instead deal directly with the artists to maximise revenues.
“I am committed to ensuring that KICC becomes a global destination. I took over when there was mismanagement of the building, but we are on the right path now,” she said.