Nobody from the private sector will utilise any KBC property without a clear framework, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has said.
Speaking when he addressed Editors in Mombasa on Saturday, Owalo said all properties that belong to KBC will be used to accumulate asset value for the organisation.
“On government using it, we will consider public/private partnership, a mutually beneficial arrangement for example using some of the unutilised KBC lands for affordable housing project,” he said.
Owalo said KBC should not have idling lands and yet they can make money out of it.
“It does not make sense to be in a position of large trucks of land while facing challenges. The arrangements that we are looking at are private partnerships to benefit both parties. No one is taking over KBC lands. It is even defined in the frameworks,” he said.
He said there will be an audit of KBC assets to ensure that money does not get into the wrong pockets.
“For example let's say a property whose lease is worth a million per month but it has been leased at Sh50,000, do the difference and you will realise that it goes to people's pockets,” he said.
Owalo said where assets have been leased out to individuals, there should be a thorough audit done.
“I have given instructions that we do an audit of these assets and there will be a renewal of leases that reflect the current market rate,” he said.
On salaries, Owalo said it has been a historical issue that is being resolved.
“These are historical issues that we need to clear. I have identified someone who will put in money and they will upgrade the KBC infrastructure. I will take the memo on Tuesday after approval on Tuesday,” he said.
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is expected to take at least three years to return to profitability if the Cabinet approves a restructuring plan that includes financial bailouts from the Treasury.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Information, Communications and Technology says KBC have huge pending bills totalling Sh12 billion.
In August, the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy announced plans to revamp the state broadcaster.
In a report, a twin-pronged approach will be used to ensure the revamp.
This includes infrastructure upgrade and retooling, as well as a review of KBC content and business model.
According to the report, Sh170 million has been set aside for modernising KBC's TV centre. This is an ongoing exercise.
"This is intended to improve both sound and signal quality and has been put to tender," it reads.