State set to buy View Park, Hazina Towers for Sh7bn
Transport, Public Works and Housing committee chairman Matungu MP David Were addressing the press last year. Photo/File
The government is seeking to acquire the landmark View Park Towers and Hazina Towers at a cost of Sh7.2 billion to house its growing agencies, weeks after NSSF halted a bid to publicly auction them.
The Government Estates Management, a department within the Ministry of Housing, requires Sh4 billion to purchase View Park and Sh3.2 billion for Hazina.
On top it requires additional funding to provide rental housing for senators and governors across the 47 counties for a period of six months.
The Transport, Public Works and Housing committee chaired by Matungu MP David Were has also recommended that the Treasury reallocate funds for the acquisition of multi-storey Harambee House and Ukulima House which are next to the MPs’ Continental House offices to accommodate the bi-cameral Parliament.
Acquisition of Hazina and View Park Towers on University Way in Nairobi will accommodate government departments and ministries to reduce the rent bill.
The Estate Management department is charged with undertaking due diligence including pre- and post-leasing or purchase condition survey, preparation, registration and administration of lease agreements.
It also handles survey and audit of government residential and office accommodation, and refurbishment. The committee which scrutinised the Housing ministry budget also wants funding increased for underfunded critical projects.
MPs want the Civil Servants Housing Scheme fund given an additional Sh3 billion to enable the scheme to fund ongoing and proposed projects and to disburse loans to Civil Servants for purchase or construction of houses. The slum upgrade requires a further Sh3 billion to expand coverage to major towns, the committee said.
Technology centres
They said the Housing Development Programme being spearheaded by the ministry needs Sh2 billion to establish building technology centres.
“The funds will also assist in the development of housing infrastructure to open up more areas for housing development,” the report says. Major challenges facing the ministry in the slum project include reoccupation of the vacated houses, the MPs said.
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