A tense standoff has erupted between Parliament and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) management, with Members of Parliament (MPs) and Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) staff reportedly locked out of their leased offices and parking areas due to Sh50 million in unpaid rent arrears.
Sources within Parliament claim KICC escalated the situation by disconnecting power, removing fuses, and locking toilets, rendering the offices unusable. While the full extent of the disruption is unclear, the Senate issued a notice to its members confirming the lockout. “Good morning, Hon. Senators. Due to unpaid rent arrears, KICC management has locked us out of our offices and parking at KICC,” the notice read, expressing regret for the inconvenience and noting that rent is managed under the Parliamentary Joint Services, Vote 2043.
Parliamentary Joint Services Director General and accounting officer, Clement Nyandiere, wrote to KICC CEO James Mwaura on 9 May 2025, requesting leniency. In the letter, copied to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Nyandiere urged KICC to allow MPs continued access to the facilities, including COMESA parking grounds, while PSC secures funds to clear the debt before the financial year ends. PSC is actively seeking funds to settle the outstanding amounts. We request that Members of Parliament continue accessing KICC facilities without interference,” the letter stated.
Nyandiere emphasised that Parliament has consistently honoured its financial obligations, despite occasional delays due to exchequer and budgetary constraints. He noted that PSC recently cleared Sh134 million in arrears, Sh73 million for the 2023/24 financial year and Sh61 million for 2024/25 up to December 2024.
However, KICC CEO James Mwaura denied knowledge of any lockout, stating that Nyandiere’s letter had not reached his office. “We are unaware of any accessibility issues at KICC,” Mwaura said. “I can see vehicles parked at COMESA grounds. I don’t know who has been blocked or when.”
The incident has spotlighted Parliament’s budget challenges. For the 2025/26 financial year, Parliament received Sh42.5 billion—Sh41.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh1.4 billion for development, falling Sh7 billion short of the Sh49.4 billion proposed in the Budget Policy Statement. This shortfall raises concerns about Parliament’s ability to meet contractual obligations.
This is not the first dispute over Parliament’s KICC lease. In 2023, the National Assembly denied owing Sh112 million in rent arrears, even as KICC listed Parliament among government institutions with debts exceeding Sh742 million.
The fate of MPs’ access to KICC facilities remains uncertain, pending resolution between PSC and KICC management.
