Nairobi's famous landmark Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) has landed in trouble over Ksh716 million debt.
Reports by Business Daily indicate that the pending bills were accrued during the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2015.
The management of the iconic venue in downtown Nairobi has now moved to the High Court seeking to stop companies laying the claims on the pending bills from auctioning its properties.
[caption caption="Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) at night"]
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In its application, KICC has told the court that it needs more time to verify the authenticity of the alleged debt claims by Greenstar Systems Limited, Kenya Revenue Authority, Congress Rental South Africa and Mosound Limited.
KICC which is arguably Nairobi's skyline most distinctive feature has engaged in intensive marketing strategies in the past.
Besides, it stands as one of the must-visit destinations for many local and international tourists in Nairobi including dignitaries and heads of states.
For instance, in early July, Swiss President Alain Berset visited the rooftop where he took pictures with Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki and KICC CEO Nana Gecaga.
Kenyans also convened in their numbers at the KICC grounds to watch televised matches in the recently concluded 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Most notably, the Kenyan audience gathered at KICC to watch the Croatia-France Final Spectacle including Deputy President William Ruto, Nairobi MPs Esther Passaris, Senator Johnson Sakaja and Tourism CS Najib Balala.
[caption caption="Swiss President Alain Berset atop KICC"]
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CEO Gecaga was recently elected Deputy Chairperson of the International Congress and Convention Association, African Chapter for a two-year term.
Following her appointment, the KICC MD indicated that she will use the influential post to further position Kenya as an attractive destination for conference tourism on the continent.
