On Monday, Members of Parliament were shocked to find that their offices at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) had been closed. This unexpected move came after Parliament failed to pay rent to the management of KICC. It was a clear sign that the situation had reached a boiling point, and the KICC management was no longer willing to wait for the debt to be cleared.
The closure left several MPs stranded outside the facility, unsure of what to do next. According to reports, the main reason behind the closure is the accumulation of rent arrears. The Public Service Commission (PSC), which is responsible for handling such payments on behalf of Parliament, had not cleared the outstanding balance. This led KICC to lock out the MPs until the full amount is settled. It is said that the PSC had only managed to pay part of the rent, amounting to Ksh.134 million, while Ksh.50 million remains unpaid.
Several lawmakers, including Ndindi Nyoro of Kiharu Constituency, Sam Atandi of Alego Usonga who also chairs the Budget Committee, Babu Owino of Embakasi East, and John Methu, senator for Nyandarua, were among those affected.
They were denied entry at the main gate, and their parking spaces remained empty as they were turned away. This disrupted their work, as they could not access their offices or carry out their usual duties.
Parliament has since tried to calm the situation by asking KICC to give them more time to complete the payment. They insisted that the remaining Ksh.50 million should not be reason enough to lock elected leaders out of their offices. They argued that it is a small amount compared to the sum already paid and that interfering with MPs’ duties affects important parliamentary business.
However, KICC has stood its ground and maintained that no offices will be reopened until the debt is fully paid. This firm stance has left Parliament in a tough spot, with no clear way forward unless the pending amount is settled. It is still unclear how soon the PSC will manage to release the remaining funds, but the pressure is mounting.
This situation has not only embarrassed lawmakers but also raised questions about how such a basic responsibility like rent could be neglected. Many are wondering how the institution charged with making laws and overseeing public funds ended up in such a mess. Until the matter is resolved, the MPs affected by the closure will have to find alternative ways to carry out their duties or simply wait for access to be restored.
