Prime Minister, key staff move to new office

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his key staff have moved to the newly renovated offices.

Prime Minister’s PS Mohamed Isahakia also disclosed on Thursday that some departments in the PM’s office are still hosted in rented property.

These are the Directorate of State Corporations, Efficiency Monitoring Unit, and Performance Contracting Department, which Isahakia said would move to the new office at the end of their leases.

House Committee on Administration of National Security, which oversees the Office of Prime Minister, toured the offices yesterday and praised the Ministry of Public Works for the renovation of the former Shell BP Building.

"I am impressed by what has happened here," said Committee Vice-Chair Peter Kiilu (Makueni).

However, the PS said private firms Gibb Africa and Space Image still occupy the fifth and sixth floors and will leave at the end of their leases before end of next year.

security queried

Mr Isahakia said several ministries, including Northern Kenya Development and Other Arid Lands, Planning, and the Directorate of Personnel Management will move into the seven-storey building opposite the Office of the President on the Harambee Avenue, Nairobi, in the next 12 months.

Isahakia said although the office had been abolished under the new Constitution "the facilities here are good enough to host any office in future, including the President."

Raila and his PS moved into the building on Monday.

During the tour some committee members sought details about the security of the building given that private firms still occupy two floors.

Isahakia said their leases end by the middle of next year.

A car park behind the PM’s office is in private hands and embroiled in a court ownership dispute with the Nairobi City Council.

There are also several private structures, shops, pedestrian and vehicle entrances into the compound on a narrow street, which committee members felt could compromise security.

Project architect Samuel Gitimu disclosed the building is covered by closed circuit television "on the outside" but the interior is not fully covered because of the floors in private hands.

Isahakia said there is a long-term policy to buy all private properties on Harambee Avenue and convert them into Government offices.

"This is the policy in many countries in the West.

In the US Pennsylvania Avenue houses Government offices," said Isahakia.