KICC in court bid to stop property auction over unpaid bills

What you need to know:

  • KICC chief executive Nana Gecaga says procurement of WTO services was hampered by fraud and malpractices.
  • She says that there are changes in the management of the KICC which had called for fresh audit of the bills.
  • She says the audit will be complete in four months.

The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) has moved to the High Court seeking to stop companies from auctioning its properties over Sh716 million pending bills.

The companies are seeking payments for services provided during the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial conference in 2015.

KICC says that it is facing multiple claims where some service providers have already obtained warrant of attachment to auction its properties while some have obtained favourable arbitration awards.
KICC chief executive Nana Gecaga in an affidavit claims that the procurement of goods and services for the WTO Ministerial conference was hit by fraud and malpractices an therefore seeks court protection as the bills are verified.
“This honourable court do grant some interim orders of moratorium for such period as this honourable court may determine staying all payments and proceedings against the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to its creditors pending the hearing and determination of the Notice of motion inter parties,” reads one of the orders sought by KICC.

Interested parties
KICC listed the Auditor-General and the Attorney-General as interested parties. It also listed Greenstar Systems Limited, Congress Rental South Africa and Mosound Limited as interested parties.

The three companies are seeking to attach KICC properties over outstanding bills.

Ms Gecaga identified 28 entities that are demanding payments from KICC totalling Sh716 million, among them Kenya Revenue Authority which is demanding Sh80 million.
She says that there are changes in the management of the KICC which had called for fresh audit of the bills, which she says will be complete in four months.
She notes that some bills appear exaggerated and dubious on the face of it, noting that corporation expects to be served with warrants to attach its properties.