Parliament Opposes Tourism Research Institute Merger with Kenya Tourism Board

Members of the National Assembly's Tourism and Wildlife Committee have opposed a proposal to merge the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), emphasizing the need to preserve the institute's autonomy.

The committee, led by Chairperson Mbiuki Kareke, voiced concerns on August 20, 2026, during consultations with tourism sector stakeholders and Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok. The discussions focused on the Tourism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which suggests dissolving TRI and the Tourism Finance Corporation and transferring their roles to KTB.

Concerns Over Impact on Research and Employment

MPs argued that weakening the research function could undermine sector development efforts. Kareke noted that many developed countries thrive due to strong investments in research, warning that absorbing TRI into KTB could be detrimental to Kenya's tourism growth.

Committee Vice Chairperson Bedzima Juma (Kisauni), alongside MPs Mohammed Ruweida (Lamu East) and Abdi Chome (Voi), also opposed the merger. They called instead for increased funding to TRI, highlighting its critical role in guiding the industry.

Ruweida raised concerns about the future of TRI employees, fearing job losses if the merger proceeds. Chome stressed the importance of maintaining the institute's independence and providing adequate resources to conduct essential research.

Funding Challenges Highlighted

Kareke attributed TRI's underperformance to insufficient funding rather than structural issues, questioning the rationale behind the proposed merger. He also criticized the Kenya Tourism Fund's role in resource allocation, describing it as a bottleneck for financing tourism institutions.

Government Support for Research

Principal Secretary Julius Bitok acknowledged financial constraints affecting TRI but underscored research as vital for informed decision-making and investment in tourism. While not opposing the Bill's proposals outright, he emphasized that research should not be sidelined.

Next Steps

The committee will continue to gather input from tourism stakeholders to shape its report on the Bill. MPs affirmed that any institutional reforms must safeguard the role of research in supporting planning, policy, and investment within the sector.