Members of the Public Accounts Committee have expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of buildings at Kenya’s diplomatic missions abroad, warning that the neglected properties are tarnishing the country’s image on the global stage.

The committee, chaired by Tindi Mwale, raised the concerns on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, while examining the Auditor-General’s report on the accounts of the State Department for Foreign Affairs for the 2023/2024 financial year.

According to the Auditor-General’s report, several government-owned buildings, including chancery offices, ambassadors’ residences and staff quarters, are in urgent need of repairs.

Embassies on focus

Among the missions flagged were those in Berlin, Germany, Paris, France and Abuja, Nigeria.

In Berlin, auditors identified a damaged roof, leakages at the attic terrace balcony, cracked walls, faulty gate hydraulic and locking systems, damaged exterior ceilings and peeling paint.

In Paris, the report cited major structural cracks running from the ground floor to the third floor of the chancery building, flooding in the basement and yard, leaking ceilings and deteriorating paint.

The ambassador’s residence was also found to have damaged fittings, broken roof tiles and corroded gutters, with no repair works undertaken.

Similar concerns were raised at Kenya’s High Commission in Abuja, where leaking roofs were reported in the chancery building, the High Commissioner’s residence and staff quarters.

Maintaining overseas projects

Committee Chairperson Mwale questioned why the government had failed to maintain its overseas properties.

“The State Department for Foreign Affairs plays a critical role and must be adequately supported to perform its mandate effectively,” Mwale said.

Appearing before the committee, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Abraham Sing’Oei blamed inadequate development funding for the delayed renovations.

“The delay in addressing most of the defects was occasioned by inadequate development budget allocations during the year under review.”

“The State Department could not facilitate the missions to undertake the renovation works due to underfunding by the National Treasury,” he said.