• Bunge Tower was initiated by the Parliamentary Service Commission in 2010 to provide sufficient office space for the MPs.
• The building had cost Sh9.6 billion by the time of completion.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
President William Ruto on Thursday presided over the official opening of Bunga Tower billed as a cost-cutting measure since Parliament will no longer pay for MPs office rents.
The building will also bring to an end expenditure on committee meetings in hotels. The Parliamentary Service Commission pay up to Sh1.5 million daily for a single committee sitting.
Located directly across Parliament Buildings, it has an underground tunnel and 26 floors with a wide range of facilities for MPs and staff.
Parliament used to pay office rent for MPs who missed spaces in the Parliament Buildings.
Of the 349 members in the National Assembly, 280-being the equitable share of offices apportioned to the House in the new building-will be allocated offices.
This leaves out 63 members, who according to National Assembly Speaker will be hosted at the nearby Parliament-owned Continental building.
The rest of the office spaces will be occupied by 51 of the 67 elected and nominated senators.
“Allocation is through balloting. For those who have missed out, we shall renovate Continental House,” National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said.
Taxpayers have over the years been shouldering the cost of committee meetings held outside Parliament premises due to limited meeting spaces.
National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah said Parliament spends Sh1.5 million every day a parliamentary committee with more than 15 membership takes its meetings to hotels.
“Like the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which I chaired in the last Parliament, on average each time we are processing the budget like the process that begins next week, the committee has had to retreat to a hotel for a period of two weeks to consider the budget estimates,” Ichung’wah said.
“During that period the National Assembly has been incurring an average of Sh1.5 million on a daily basis for the two weeks the committee would retreat to a hotel. That tells you the amount we will be saving not only in Parliament but also in the government.”
“The completion of this building also goes a long way to helping the institution of Parliament to institutionalise huge cost cutting measures.”
Malindi MP Mishi Mboko, a member of the commission, said opening of the building will significantly reduce the commission’s expenditure.
“We shall have saved a lot of money that would have otherwise been spent in paying rent for members’ offices,” she said.
This is expected to reduce significantly as the new building comes with world-class conference facilities.
Located in four floors of the building are 26 committee rooms, an open garden floor, a restaurant, a health club and a service floor.
Currently, there are only nine committee rooms against 66 House committees from both the National Assembly and the Senate.
There are 45 committees in the National Assembly and 21 in the Senate.
Speaking during the launch, the head of state challenged MPs to up their game and use the multibillion-shilling facility to serve Kenyans better.
“You now have world-class facility, the people of Kenya expect world-class representation, legislation and oversight,” Ruto said.
“You have no reason not to give the people of Kenya the best of what you are doing. Quality of representation and debate is going to improve.”
The President was accompanied by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, top government officials and the House leadership.
“You have everything you need, please work for the people who elected you,” the DP said.
“The building has tremendously elevated the status of Parliament. Elevated status comes with elevated expectations and scrutiny,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said.
Bunge Tower was initiated by the Parliamentary Service Commission in 2010 to provide sufficient office space for the MPs.
The building was originally designed for members of the National Assembly with 320 offices, but the coming in of the Senate after the adoption of the new Constitution saw senators included.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said on Wednesday the contract for the project has been revised several times, beyond the limit provided for by the PFM Act, 2012.
The construction of the building started in 2010 with an initial budget of Sh5.89 billion.
However, the cost was revised to Sh7.1 billion, with financial claims attracting Sh1.1 billion and Sh225.2 million in interest on delayed payments.
The building had cost Sh9.6 billion by the time of completion.
The official opening also comes in the backdrop of accountability concerns, with some members questioning how the figure shot by almost Sh4 billion.
Cherargei on Wednesday raised the matter on the floor of the Senate, demanding inquiry on whether the building is fit for occupation.
The vocal lawmaker also demanded explanation on why the contract for the project has been revised several times, beyond the limit provided for by the PFM Act, 2012.
“Explain the factors that led to the escalation of projects costs of the Bunge Tower from the initial budget of Sh5.89 billion to the revised figure of the Sh9.6 billion, listing all contractors and suppliers involved in the construction of the Bunge Tower, including payments made to each and any pending payments,” Cherargei said.
“Clarify the reasons for the current move to occupy the Bunge Tower, despite ongoing construction activities in sections of the building and assess whether the building is fit for occupation.”
But leaders during the launch dismissed the critics, saying the building not only meets international standards but is also a game changer in the region.
“Facilities we are providing to members to do their work is first-class, they are better facilities than the House of Commons in the UK,” Wetang’ula said.
National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi backed Wetang’ula, giving the building a clean bill of health.