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Why Musalia is yet to occupy Railways office despite reassignment

The Executive Order by the president indicates that the office of the prime cabinet secretary is Kenya Railways Headquarters

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by FELIX KIPKEMOI

News14 January 2023 - 05:39
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In Summary


  • There are reports that the building was being renovated before he moves in, reports corroborated by his communication team.
  • Mudavadi has already occupied a number of floors in the Treasury building at the heart of the City along the Harambee Avenue.
A section of the Kenya Railways building in Nairobi. Mudavadi is to occupy a block in the building.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi may not occupy his designated offices at the ‘noisy’ Railways headquarters in Nairobi any time soon.

It has emerged that the third most powerful man in President William Ruto’s government has raised concerns about the location of the building insisting a different office to house him should be identified.

 

Musalia has already occupied a number of floors in the Treasury building at the heart of the City along Harambee Avenue where all other government offices are located.

Following this, a number of key departments in the building were forced to be relocated.

On January 10, Mudavadi even held talks with the UDA chairman Johnstone Muthama at the offices.

In the Executive Order issued last October by the president, the office of the prime cabinet secretary is indicated as the Kenya Railways Headquarters while that of the Deputy President is Harambee Annex which is adjacent to the Harambee house.

Ruto on his part runs his affairs from the State House.

But more than two months since Mudavadi was named to the position he is yet to relocate to the offices.

There are reports that the building was being renovated before he moves in, reports corroborated by his communication team.

One would expect that the renovation should have been completed by now if the works started immediately.

In fact, a visit showed normal operations going on at the offices.

“It is true the prime cabinet secretary is set to operate from Railways building but as far as I am concerned it is under renovation,” said an official.

“The boss is currently working from Treasury and he will be there until when we get a communication or notice that the offices are ready.”

The monumental building designed by British architect Herbert Baker was constructed in 1924 during the colonial era of Governor Sir Edward Grig. 

It has four blocks, namely A, B, C and D, each with two storeys apart from D which has four.

The four blocks are separated from each by courtyards which are ideal for enhancing lighting in the building. The design also features surrounding the courtyards.  

The courtyard of the building has fountains and pools which act as heat sinks, cooling the building mass by radiant cooling.

When he appeared for vetting, Mudavadi uncompromisingly stated the location was ideal and will even offer him an opportunity to interact with the people daily due to its proximity.

His remark came after an online buzz that the site was not favorable due to the noise emanating from matatu stage.

“The busy public transport terminus will be a constant reminder of why we are in the office. Seeing the people at the bus terminus will be a constant reminder that we have work to do on the promises we made to them that must be delivered,” Mudavadi said when he appeared for vetting.

In the latest Executive Order 1 of 2023, Mudavadi has been assigned to assist the president and deputy in the supervision of ministries, coordinate and implement policies with the Ministry of Interior and chair principal secretaries’ committees.

He is also set to coordinate government legislative agenda across ministries, supervise technical monitoring and evaluation of government policies and program and perform other functions assigned by the president.

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