Government finally acquires Kenya’s chancery in London, Mudavadi reveals

Kenya has finally acquired the chancery building for its mission in London , a move that is likely to save the taxpayer millions of shillings spent on monthly rent.

This was announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi during a visit to the mission on Wednesday.

“During my visit to the Kenya High Commission in London, I shared exciting news with the staff: after decades of leasing, the Government of Kenya has officially acquired the building. Plans are underway to give it a fresh new look. I encouraged the team to actively promote Kenya as a prime investment hub, especially as shifting trade dynamics make Africa an increasingly attractive destination for global industries,” Mudavadi wrote on X.

He also revealed that Kenya and the United Kingdom are set to elevate their ties to a strategic partnership, opening the door to deeper cooperation that will benefit both nations.

Mudavadi also highlighted approval by the Cabinet for the ministry’s inclusion in the Security budget group, an important step that will safeguard funding and enhance the welfare of our diplomatic missions, terming it a major milestone.

Kenya has been seeking to pay the chancery since its lease expired on October 10, 2021.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, however, flagged the delay in completing the purchase after the process was halted despite the ministry transferring Ksh 1,669,999,550 in the financial year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 for its acquisition.

It is not clear whether the price has since shot up.

In her audit report for the financial year 2022-2023, Gathungu also noted that the renovation works of the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in London had commenced despite the non-existence of a contract and bills of quantities.

During the year, the management also undertook minor renovations of the residence but on completion, the inspection team, vide minutes dated January 24, 2023, recommended and approved additional works to make the house habitable. A contract, she said, was issued on April 24, 2023.

The mission, Gathungu revealed, continued to pay rent for a leased house for the high commissioner since October, 2022, when the renovations commenced at a monthly rate of GBP13,250 (Sh2,027,250).

Similarly, the deputy high commissioner ended his tour of duty on August 30, 2023, having stayed in a leased house at a quarterly rent of GBP 11,400 (Ksh 1,744,200).

“In the circumstances, the State Department has continued to incur rental expenses which could have been avoided had the houses been renovated promptly,” she stated.