We are not selling KICC - Mwaura

By Peter Ochieng

The government has no plan of selling the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), in Nairobi.

Addressing the press on Thursday, government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the intention of President William Ruto's administration is to privatise KICC to as to add its value, but not to sale.

“If you want to privatise an entity, you cannot do it when it is dilapidated in condition. Privatisation is not selling, it has to do with someone coming on board, investing their money for a given period, getting some percentage of ownership in terms of that period and then after that, it can be reviewed," said Mwaura.

“This facility is iconic; Kenya is not selling KICC but is just maximising the potential and value by putting about Sh2 billion or so, and it is currently an ongoing process in an 11-year process.”

KICC prominently featured in news towards the end of last year, after appearing in the list of parastatals put up for privatisation by the government.

Some Kenyans, among them opposition leader Raila Odinga opposed the move.

However, Mwaura says investors will come in to give KICC a facelift. In the process, he said it will help promote businesses around the area.

“We will not just be using this place for offices but will also use it for investment and to get money from hotels. We will also have a new hotel from this premises so that when many people come here, you can revive Hilton, inter Continental so that people can make money,” he stated.

“Privatisation is about getting a solid investor who comes in and does what they need to do to make money for themselves and also for the country and then they can move on.”

Other State Corporations put up for privatisation include the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC).

Others are the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB), National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), Kenya Seed Company Limited (KSC) and Mwea Rice Mills Ltd (MRM).