Parliament to build 26-storey office block

Parliament already has leased offices in the building and has factored in the money to be directly transferred to the Ministry of Housing in the fiscal year starting July 1, 2012.

The commission will also spend a further Sh700 million to buy a yet to be identified building within the envisaged parliamentary square bound by Parliament Road, City Hall Way, Uhuru Highway and Haile Sellassie Avenue.

In its ten-year Strategic Plan stretching to 2018, the National Assembly plans to acquire buildings on Parliament Road and Uhuru Highway and terminating at Haile Selassie Avenue.

Refurbishment

The parliamentary commission has set aside Sh400 million for refurbishment of leased offices at Ukulima and Harambee House buildings which are located within the proposed parliamentary square.

According to its annual report for 2011 tabled in Parliament by PSC commissioner Olago Aluoch last week, another Sh700 million will be spent on the refurbishment of the Senate Chambers, commonly known as the Old Chamber.

The refurbishment of the new chamber, which commenced in 2010 at a cost of Sh960 million is nearly complete. The new chamber is currently being fitted with chairs supplied by the Prisons Department.

MPs are currently using the Old Chamber for debates and once they move into the new chamber, refurbishment of the old chamber will begin in readiness for the 68 member Senate.

Members to the Senate will be elected during the General Election scheduled for March 4, 2013.

The commission says that priority was being given to partitioning of offices at the main Parliament Buildings to create the Senate Wing and the National Assembly Wing.

Construction of radio and TV broadcasting studios was completed in 2011 and equipping of the same is ongoing.

Expansion

The commission also approved the development of a master plan for the Centre For Parliamentary Studies (CPST) based in Karen for which Sh300 million is earmarked.

Out of the amount, Sh200 million will be spent on buying land for expansion and Sh100 million on building offices and other physical structures.

emutai@ke.nationmedia.com