State House catering: Lucrative yet controversial business

An event set up by Wonderjoy Party World. [Courtesy, Wonderjoy Party, Meta] Wonderjoy Party World Ltd had been providing catering and events management services for Presidents Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and his successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, but that came to an abrupt stop in 2022 following a regime change. According to a case filed at the High Court, the service provider has sued State House, seeking Sh7.7 billion for the cancelled presidential events contract. The firm claimed that despite having a valid contract, it was abruptly removed when President William Ruto was declared the winner by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). In his witness statement, the director, Isaac Maina Wandere, said that he started the business in 2000, when he began providing catering and events management services to the government. "I made my entry into government in the Moi era in 2000 and started providing catering and event management services to the government and its various departments. In 2001-2002, we served the Moi government as it campaigned for Uhuru Kenyatta. Due to the plaintiff company's good work, we also worked with President Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta in their two terms at the helm of the presidency," claimed Wandere. He stated that over the years, he invested to ensure that the government received the best services despite not paying on time. An event set up by Wonderjoy Party World. [Courtesy, Wonderjoy Party, Meta] Wandere said that he cooked food for the President's events and provided the public address system, tents, and decorations whenever required. He further said that the agreement was that Wonderjoy would be paid within 60 days after offering the services. Nevertheless, he stated that immediately Ruto was announced as the winner, his services were terminated despite there being a running contract in place. "The termination was so painful and was orchestrated by the following actions," he narrated to the court, adding that Wonderjoy staff were immediately ordered to leave Kasarani Stadium, where they were preparing for the swearing-in of the new President. He claimed that the work was 90 per cent complete, and also lamented that Wonderjoy was blacklisted from getting any government job. Wandere pleaded that the Kenya Kwanza administration deliberately blocked and completely blacklisted Wonderjoy from being paid. An event set up by Wonderjoy Party World. [Courtesy, Wonderjoy Party, Meta] "It has become completely impossible to run operations despite the huge investments that were in place. As a result of the said termination and breach by the defendants, the plaintiff's company has suffered losses and damages," said Wandere, also claiming that he lost Sh413,292 between August 22 and September 2023. At the same time, he said that he lost Sh24.7 million that he had used to insure his equipment and a further Sh2 million for the equipment, and that State House owes him Sh603 million in pending bills without interest and a further Sh144 million for unpaid suppliers and statutory debts. The businessman claimed that he also lost Sh37.8 million as he had to lay off employees and declare others redundant. Wandere told the court that Wonderjoy had become a regional service provider as it organised and managed the swearing-in event of South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

State House catering: Lucrative yet controversial business

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State House catering: Lucrative yet controversial business

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