The Siaya County government plans to spend Sh52 million on celebrations to welcome US President Barack Obama next week.
The money, according to a budget seen by Nation.co.ke, will be spent on a series of activities to be hosted in the county, mostly sports.
The Lake Kanyaboli Half Marathon will cost Sh5 million, a culture and tourism expo (Sh4.7 million), the Obama 7s rugby tournament (Sh21.8 million) and an investment conference (Sh5.3 million).
The secretariat will gobble up Sh15 million for coordination of the events, which include a "Grand Air Force One welcome party", for Sh2.8 million while publicity will consume at least Sh10.5 million, among other expenses.
The US embassy and the Kenyan government have not indicated that President Obama will visit Siaya County, the home of his father.
BUDGET DEFENDED
When contacted by Nation.co.ke yesterday, Siaya County Secretary Kepha Marube defended the budget, saying the regional government would only contribute Sh10 million.
He said the rest of the money would come from sponsors.
According to Mr Marube, the events will be run by many agencies, among them the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Athletics Kenya.
“The activities are scheduled by a conglomerate of partners. We are only contributing Sh10 million. Most of them are already under way, such as the shooting of a documentary on tourist attractions in the county,” he said by phone.
Mr Marube, however, remained non-committal on what each of the agencies was contributing towards the kitty.
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