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{
    "id": 472726,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/472726/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Were",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 153,
        "legal_name": "David Aoko Were",
        "slug": "david-were"
    },
    "content": "Convention Center” and the rationale for this. Four, the total number of architectural designs and community heritage sites which have not been designated as protected areas. I beg to respond. The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts is the custodian of the national heritage, thus charged with the protection of all heritage sites in Kenya. Over the past years, the National Museums of Kenya has continued researching and gazetting all buildings which were threatened by rapid development and pressure to urbanization. However, in the last couple of years, a campaign to gazette some of the post-independence and modern buildings that are of special value and worth celebrating was initiated. This necessitated the involvement of other stakeholders from educational institutions, private entities and Kenya Architectural Association, who elicited input from the public in the identification of buildings worth celebrating or protecting. KICC and Parliament Buildings were voted as the most popular buildings by the members of the public who participated in the survey. Other heritage areas include Kaloleni Social Hall, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta statue and the mausoleum. One, 24th July 2013, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts, published a notice via Kenya Gazette Vol CXV of 26 July 2013 declaring Kenyatta International Conference Centre as a monument within the meaning of the National Museums of Kenya. Two, KICC did not seek the expert opinion of the Chief Architect, Directorate of Public Works, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on the structural integrity and stability of the building and whether the signage will alter the initial concept of the tower. The Ministry responded via a letter dated 20th August 2013 and assured KICC that the designs presented were not going to affect the structural integrity and stability of the building. Further, the signage lighting was going to enhance the visibility of the building. Based on the above expert opinion, KICC proceeded to lease out the space. It should, however, be noted that the signage as erected is temporary and will be restored back to its original state. The current and registered name of the building is still “Kenyatta International Conference Center.” However, the enactment of the Tourism Act of 2011 changed the nature of the parastatal from Kenyatta International Conference Center to Kenyatta International Convention Center. The rationale for this is that a convention center is usually larger than a conference center. It can hold more people and hold conferences for over many days. A conference center is smaller compared to a convention center. It should be noted that when KICC was established, its object and purpose then was limited to organizing and hosting meetings. With increased mandate, the object and purpose of KICC went beyond just hosting of meeting to include bidding and providing technical support services related to organizing of events. There was therefore need to change KICC from a conference to a convention center to adequately address this mandate. It should also be noted that Kenya is benchmarking with the leading meeting conferences and exhibition destinations in the world, where major meeting venues are known as convention centers as opposed to conference centers. There is Vienna Convention Center, Cape Town International Center, Durban International Convention Center, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center and others. Thank you, hon. Speaker."
}