The new parliament towers, worth billions of shillings, are now ready for use.
The 28-story structure, which cost taxpayers approximately Ksh.8 billion to build, will be occupied by Members of Parliament beginning next week.
According to Speaker Moses Wetangula’s communication, National Assembly Members will occupy 280 of the 331 available offices in the building.
“In order to ensure that members occupy the offices immediately they are handed over, I have directed the clerk to prepare the schedule of allocation of the 280 offices being equitable share of the apportioned to the National Assembly, regrettably around 63 members of this house will not be accommodated in the new office block,” Wetangula said.
According to the communication by Wetangula, priority will be given to the leadership of the House starting with the Deputy Whips, chairperson of the committees and vice chairs, members of the speaker’s panel and those serving more than one term.
“The election of committee chairpersons and the vice chairpersons will be concluded by Friday, (November 4) and there I have directed the clerk to carry out the allocation next week from Monday 7th November 2022,” said Wetangula.
Members in their first term will be allocated offices via balloting, which the speaker has ordered to take place on Wednesday, November 9th.
Wetangula has assured members who will not be assigned offices that they will be given space in other existing parliament buildings.
“Those who will not be accommodated in the new building they will be accommodated in other building within the Parliament building,” Wetangula stated.
The complex includes 331 office buildings, 26 committee rooms, and parking.
The building has been under construction for ten years, and the completion date has been moved several times.
The delay was also partly triggered by an audit query by the Auditor General who raised concerns over the fact the project was incomplete despite millions of shillings injected into it.
