President Kenyatta has fired a team in charge of the country’s 50 years celebrations over an extravagant budget. FILE PHOTO
By DAVE OPIYO
IN SUMMARY
National Government Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo, who chaired the organising committee, last week maintained that the Sh2.5 billion budget was yet to be approved, but added that the private sector would be brought on board to fund part of it.
President Kenyatta has fired a team in charge of the country’s 50 years celebrations over an extravagant budget.
This follows revelations exclusively reported by the Sunday Nation that it had drawn up a budget that could see taxpayers spend a staggering Sh2.5 billion on the event.
The cash was to be spent on activities and projects such as billboards, statues and entertainment as the country marks its Golden Jubilee in the second week of December this year.
The Sunday Nation had last week exclusively reported on the budget plans, which are yet to be approved by the Cabinet.
However Friday, the President— in a statement sent by his spokesman Manoah Esipisu— said by suggesting such an astronomical expenditure on the celebrations, the Kenya@50 organising committee was clearly out of touch with the financial mood in government.
“Consequently, President Kenyatta has ordered that the committee be disbanded,” read the statement.
A new committee consisting of officials from the ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts will be constituted to take over the planning of the event. They will be assisted by others in the private sector while State House will play the oversight role.
Yesterday, Mr Esipisu said even though 50 years of Uhuru was an important event in the national calendar, the celebrations must be done within “the context of a frugal government sensitive to the difficult economic conditions that currently prevail around the globe.”
“After all, the Jubilee Government has consistently and persistently called for prudence in the management of our country’s financial resources,” he said.
The huge budget included Sh690 million for events management and logistics, Sh286 million for conference and exhibition during the one week celebration, Sh300 million for publicity and communication, Sh365 million for entertainment and a handsome Sh320 million to go towards identifying Kenya’s most prominent personalities.
It also included Sh50 million for erecting a bronze statue of retired President Kibaki hoisting aloft a copy of the Constitution during its promulgation on August 27, 2010.
National Government Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo, who chaired the organising committee, last week maintained that the Sh2.5 billion budget was yet to be approved, but added that the private sector would be brought on board to fund part of it.
The figures drew sharp reactions from Kenyans who felt the lavish spending was unwarranted.
Briefing members of the private sector on preparations for the event at a breakfast meeting last Thursday, Mr Iringo declared that the government was determined to ensure that the event eclipsed President Kenyatta’s inauguration ceremony on April 9.
“This event will perhaps even be bigger than the President’s inauguration ceremony and that is why we want to involve as many people as possible and ensure it is a success,” he said.
Minutes of the committee meeting held on July 9 indicate that the budget for former president Kibaki’s bronze statue was raised from Sh15 million to Sh50 million.
Members felt that this was necessary so as to have a monument that was of the “right scale,” the minutes read.
The meeting further allocated Sh20 million for the acquisition of 20 billboard size portraits of the country’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, former presidents Daniel Moi and Kibaki and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
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