Friday, September 7, 2012

VP residence 'ready for occupation'


VP residence 'ready for occupation'

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By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, September 6  2012 at  16:16
IN SUMMARY
  • Palatial mansion in the leafy Karen suburbs cost taxpayers around Sh400 million.
  • The complex constructed in a 10-acre land comprises of a main house, office block, guesthouse, gazebo with a fully equipped gym.
The official residence of the Vice President has been handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs, setting the stage for its occupation.
On Thursday, a government team from the Ministries of Public Works and Home Affairs together with the main contractor, Vittorio Veneziani, inspected the home.
This was followed by a "technical handover".
The palatial mansion in the leafy Karen suburbs cost taxpayers around Sh400 million. It now awaits an official launch by President Kibaki, which is yet to be set.
According to project manager Linus Kibisu, the mansion whose construction began seven years ago, is now ready for occupation.
"The landscaping has been done, the road works have been completed together with the drainage…everything is ready.
"We have today (Thursday) performed the technical handover of the facility to the Ministry of Home Affairs who will now decide when it will be occupied,” said the architect.
"All that remains is the furnishing and we are good to go."
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka could be the first occupant of the official residence if he opts to move in, just six months before the General Election.
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The government resolved to construct the official residence of the VP in 2005 and the tender was given to Dimken Kenya Ltd to carry out the works at a cost of Sh197 million.
The contract was later terminated due to non-performance and the works given to Mr Veneziani, with the costs doubling to Sh383 million.
This is the second residence the government is constructing for the country's VP after former President Moi turned an official house he occupied at Kabarnet Gardens into private property.
Kabarnet Gardens presently hosts the Moi Africa Institute.
The complex constructed in a 10-acre land comprises of a main house, office block, guesthouse, gazebo with a fully equipped gym, steam bath and a bar, garage/generator house, swimming pool and comptroller's unit.
Armoury
It also has security unit with an armoury, domestic staff quarters, pergola walkway, pump house, water treatment plant, borehole and low level water tank.
The residence has spacious double room bedrooms for the VP, his family and guests. The VP’s bathroom has a Jacuzzi that can hold two people as well as a shower cubicle, which an individual can play music at the touch of a button.  There is also a separate guest house.
The VP's house has a major and a minor lounge on the ground floor, washrooms, library and visitor's bedroom, which also has a bathroom with a Jacuzzi and a shower cubicle. Located on the first floor is a common space, living room, two bedrooms for children and the VP's.
A garage capable of holding at least six vehicles is attached to the main house.
The complex also has an office block, which consists of the VP's office, a boardroom, press centre, interpreter's room, lounge and caretaker's office.
The Comptroller's block has several offices, bedrooms and a study room.
The complex has six security rooms, a common sitting room and kitchen and an armoury whose walls are reinforced with steel.
The staff quarters has three buildings with three units having two bedroom and three bedroom houses.

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