Battle for Vice Chairmanship as AAK goes to the polls

The Architectural Association of Kenya members will be electing a new governing council before their 44th AGM to be held on Friday, 25th March 2011. Incumbent chairman, Arch. Steven Oundo, is largely expected to retain his seat for a second term with indications that he will be running for the seat unopposed. Arch. Oundo has been largely credited for having spearheading reforms in the construction sector and has been at the forefront in the fight against unfair procurement procedures that AAK members have been subjected to in the past.

The race has thus shifted to the position of vice chairman, with three strong contenders for the post. This is seemingly the most strategic position to hold for those seeking to take over after Arch. Oundo clears his second and final term as AAK chairman in 2013. Those in the race are Arch. Waweru Gathecha - immediate former chairman AAK Architects Chapter, Arch. Maxwell Suero - immediate former chairman of AAK Mombasa branch and QS Festus Litiku - the incumbent vice chairman. QS Litiku is facing a daunting task to retain his seat.

This election also brings to the fore the voting procedures for the association. Currently, the association sends ballot papers to all its eligible members via post. These members are then required to fill up the ballots and return them to the secretariat before a set deadline. This procedure, besides being too costly for the association, is also prone to irregularities. A member is planning to move a motion to have the elections conducted via the association's website which was recently upgraded.

The election results will be announced on 25th march at the AGM.

Multi-billion shilling properties may be demolished in bid to expand city highway by Dave Opiyo

[caption id="attachment_1428" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Part of the new Sameer Business Park on the city’s Mombasa Road. The building is among properties that face demolition to pave way for road expansion. Suleiman Mbatiah | NATION"][/caption]

Multi-billion shilling landmark buildings on either side of a major city road could be demolished in a new expansion plan.

The properties to be affected on the busy Mombasa Road include sections of Sameer Industrial Park, Standard Group Centre, Simba Colt Motors Ltd, Excel Chemicals Ltd, Kenya Shell Limited, Real Industrial Park Ltd, Alfa Motors Ltd, and Twiga Stationers and Printers Ltd.

Also in the list are Asshowton Holdings Ltd, Caribon Ltd, Three Bees Park, Laboratories and Allied Equipment, and Bodo Holdings amongst others.

They are part of 50 individual and limited companies, which are set to lose their land as the Ministry of Roads prepares to further expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-Museum-Gigiri road.

On Tuesday, the Institute of Surveyors of Kenya could not immediately put a value on the buildings that will eventually be pulled down, but said that due to the fact that some of them took millions to construct, they could be collectively worth billions of shillings.

“It is very difficult to put a value on the said property,” said Mr Mwenda Makathimo, the chairman of the surveyors’ institute, who is also a valuation and property management expert.

Late last year, the government signalled its intention of acquiring the land under which the buildings have been constructed with the publication of a gazette notice by the Commissioner of Lands dated December 31.

The government can under the Land Acquisition Act compel an individual or a company to vacate land, but the landowner has to be compensated first.

In the notice, Mr Zablon Mabeya, the Lands Commissioner, asked the landowners to inspect the project plans at his ministry in a bid to prepare their compensation claims. Hearings on the same are scheduled to start in March.

A section of the landowners have already petitioned Roads minister Franklin Bett for details of the road project and the rates at which they will be compensated.

But some argue that the parcels they will be left with would be of little economic value, adding that the chief government valuer could short-change them on the value of their parcels.

They also reckon that with the delay in the start of the project due to a row between the World Bank and one of the contractors, they should be allowed to use the land much longer.

However, Roads minister Franklin Bett said that the row would be resolved by the end of this month. There are suggestions that the controversial contract could be awarded to a Chinese company.

A Roads ministry spokesperson said the land acquisition would be handled according to the laid down procedures and asked those affected not to panic.

Source: Daily Nation

Mombasa may not survive the current urbanization wave, but will still live on, in photos.

Mombasa’s rich historical past has now been immortalised for posterity in a photographic collection.

This comes as the wave of modernisation slowly creeps on this centuries-old town, threatening to transform it irreversibly.

A small island town dotted with coconut palms, kanzu-clad men whiling away time on narrow pavements, people serving coffee from traditional Arabian urns and sites and sounds that go back centuries are part of Mombasa’s history.

But this face has been slowly changing as high-rise buildings replace the low Swahili designs and large thoroughfares take the place of winding narrow roads that characterised the old transport network.

In the new look town, it is only the Mackinnon Market; the old port where dhows carrying dried fish still dock; Castle Royal; Fort Jesus and some areas that still give one an idea of the beautiful past.

Despite this, Kenyans and other students of history will for many years to come be able to walk through old Mombasa, thanks to the photographic collection on a souvenir calendar produced by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and Friends of Fort Jesus (FFJ).

As the NMK marks 100 years of its existence, there is no better gift Kenyans can get than a glimpse of the past, a reminder of how far major towns like Mombasa have evolved to their present status.

Launched at Fort Jesus on Tuesday evening, the 2011 calendar contains historical photographs of old Mombasa, including those of the old port and the current Kilindini port.

The photos give an overview of what the old Mombasa used to be in terms of people and architectural designs.

One of the aims of the calendar is to celebrate the town’s rich history and capture the changes in the environment.

The Museums assistant director in charge of Coast region, Mr Athuman Hussein said: “There is a lot of education in the photographs.”

He was representing the NMK director, Dr Idle Farah.

The FFJ chairperson, Ms Marlene Reid, described the launch of the calendar as celebrating the past and preserving it for the future.

Ms Reid said the calendar is a product of the FFJ photographic collection that was started in 1981. She said the calendar also celebrates the spirit of cooperation between FFJ and the Fort Jesus Museum.

Ms Reid said she hoped they will make the photographic collection more valuable by having it professionally put on CDs for easy access and use.

Swahili furniture, pottery and other forms of art and craft are among the most sought products, yet research has shown that all these are being exploited by foreigners.

These, according to the acting director of the Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa, Mr Kassim Omar, are what will be the focus of the first furniture and furnishing exhibition to be held on the historic Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa early next month.

The inaugural event, Mr Omar said, targets more than 30,000 people, among them artists and furniture owners.

It will highlight the role of creative industries as a vehicle of economic empowerment and a means of alleviating poverty within the communities in line with Vision 2030, he added.

The theme of the exhibition is “Economic Empowerment through Creative Cultural Industries” and is in line with NMK’s: “1910-2010: Celebrating a Century of Heritage Management”.

Already residents of Old Town will have an opportunity to showcase their rich Swahili cultural heritage at an evening bazaar supported by the French embassy and the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA).

The bazaar is taking the format of a successful one in Zanzibar called Forodhani and the Cape Town Waterfront in South Africa, which have become  major tourist attractions as they mirror the lifestyle of the olden days.

MCTA executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said the residents will be lining with their items along the roads from the Bank of India to Fort Jesus, showcasing the local Swahili culinary and dishes.

“This is a deliberate move to attract local and international guests to the Old Town and Fort Jesus by enhancing culture-based tourism.

“Through these exhibitions that will also include Swahili crafts, music and decorations, the residents, who have been taking a backseat in the development of tourism, will be part of the system,” she said.

Other efforts at preserving the rich cultural heritage of Mombasa include funding by the European Union through the Mombasa Old Town Conservation for restoration of dilapidated buildings in the Old Town of Mombasa and Lamu.

Source: Daily Nation

Is Nyali the 'Upper Hill' of Mombasa?

A construction boom is taking place in Mombasa’s Nyali area as the Nyali Bridge traffic jam discourages people from driving down town. Land is also shrinking in the island leaving no space to put up office blocks.

As a result, Nyali is now being seen by investors as the next investment frontier as office blocks come up, which has seen the value of land there double in the past three years.

Property developers, architects, doctors, ICT companies, shipping lines, construction companies and hardware dealers have already established bases in Nyali.

The hitherto quiet part of Mombasa has thus been replaced by the hustle and bustle of a growing town with construction work going on 24 hours a day. The result? Mombasa is now expanding further afield to Vipingo, about 20 kilometres away on Malindi Road.

However, concerns are emerging on whether Nyali, previously owned and planned for high-end residential houses has adequate amenities to support this transformation.

It means that Nyali will have to have modern facilities such as fibre optic connectivity and bio-digestive systems to manage waste. Well designed car parks as well.

Already shopping malls are accommodating supermarkets while recreational grounds, such as the Nyali Golf Club and the Wild Waters Entertainment Park, are easing off pressure from the down town.

It would also appear that market dynamics are working in favour of Nyali. The area is home to a sizable middle class, which according to developers, already provides sufficient demand for such developments.

In May the Housing Finance Corporation of Kenya launched its first commercial property venture in Mombasa and is financing a Sh180 million office space complex in Nyali.

HFCK managing director, Mr Frank Ireri, says the construction of the six-storey block Links Plaza in Nyali is aimed at reducing pressure on Mombasa Island and providing office space outside the town for convenience.

“Due to population growth, Mombasa has become crowded and there is need to move out of town so that services are not stretched further. This is happening in Nairobi where offices are moving out of the central business district.”

The bank will finance 70 per cent of the cost of the project and the developers are introducing a unique concept in which businesses will obtain mortgages to enable them to own offices rather than relying on renting, says the bank’s director of property supply Moses Wekesa.

“We will provide finance for premise ownership running up to 12 years and business owners will have the advantage of subletting any space they do not need,” says Wekesa. The building will be ready for occupation by the end of next year.

The project architect, Titus Kipsang of Symbion International says the building will have a backup-generator, fibre optic connectivity, solar powered common lighting system, 24-hour CCTV surveillance, secure parking and splendid ocean views.

However, one of the major challenges facing this development is lack of supportive amenities such as water and sewerage systems since the initial plan for the area didn’t put into consideration such huge developments.

Some plot owners in Nyali have also protested that they are being deprived of their privacy and have gone to court to block construction. According to Mombasa Town Clerk Tubman Otieno, Nyali residents should live with the realities of Mombasa’s expansion.

“We must accept that Mombasa town has grown over the years but there has been no Municipal resolution to control development of houses,” says Tubman adding that the municipality was developing a master plan.

According to Tubman, the municipality will benefit from a $15 million (Sh1.2 billion) fund from the World Bank to upgrade the sewerage system covering a 17-kilometre radius that will include Nyali it plans to “concessionise” roads and improve waste management system by partnering with the private sector.

“We are even mulling over floating an infrastructure bond of between five to ten billion shillings to finance various projects the council is undertaking,” says Tubman.

In regard to water, the Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) says it will present a sewerage investment plan to the Water ministry mid next year, for approval after which it will seek funding to develop a sewerage system.

“Once the plan is complete we hope to pump in about $3 million (Sh240 million) in the project’s initial stages,” says CWSB chief executive officer Maro Tola. But according to some qur developers should also take the initiative of coming up with measures to provide fresh water as a matter of urgency rather than wait for these projects that might take long thus delaying developments.

“Rain water can provide up to 40 per cent of the water needs of an office block and developers should put in place infrastructure to harvest it. Other measures such as de-salination of sea water can also address this problem,” says a developer.

Source: Daily Nation

Investors seek to cash in on planned bypass

The planned construction of a bypass linking Mombasa island and the South Coast is attracting investors seeking to cash in on the benefits of enhanced infrastructure.

South Coast, whose main town is Diani, had been given a wide berth by investors due to ferry delays at the Likoni channel.

Transport minister Amos Kimunya said the construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass would start before the end of the year.

Mr Kimunya said that construction of the road, which will start at Miritini through Dongo Kundu and end at Lunga Lunga in South Coast, would commence after tendering is finalised.

“The South Coast has great potential which needs to be exploited to the fullest. This will be made possible by this road,” the minister said.

Ministry of Roads PS, Engineer Michael Kamau, said bids for the construction of the multi-million bypass would be issued as soon as the minister endorses the plan.

He said the much-awaited project had been hit by a misunderstanding among different government agencies over the routing, a matter he added had been resolved for the 18km road that would also create special economic zones in Changamwe and the South Coast.

“The increased economic growth and the population demands that the flow of traffic and goods is uninterrupted and this can only be realised through a bypass in Dongo Kundu,” he said.

The South Coast has in the last few months witnessed massive construction and setting up of amenities such as banks, supermarkets, private schools and hospitals.

“All the major banks have branches in Diani and we are now witnessing the explosion of high-rise buildings to capitalise on available land,” said Mr David Ndirangu, proprietor of Masai Cottages and Masai Bureau nightclub.

Palm Beach Hospital proprietor, Dr Lalit Kotak, said economic development in the area would increase if the bypass is constructed.

Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said the bypass would benefit not only the tourism but every sector of the economy.

Source: Daily Nation

Kibaki tells Architects, “You are Damn Expensive.”

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has challenged professionals in the construction industry to partner with the government to facilitate swift implementation of projects that will improve the social welfare of citizens.

President Kibaki noted that prohibitive consultancy fees charged by professionals in the industry frustrated project implementation apart from making even ordinary projects unattainable.

He said that there was need to tackle temptations of inflating consultancy fees adding that they must reflect realistic cost and asked the Architectural Association of Kenya to deal with the matter.

The Head of State noted that projects that directly benefited Kenyans were unnecessarily overpriced thus frustrating government’s efforts to improve the living standards of wananchi.

The President made the remarks on Monday when he met members of the Architectural Association of Kenya at his Harambee House Office.

The Head of State affirmed that many ordinary Kenyans intuitively knew the realistic cost of undertaking simple projects such as constructing a common classroom or other similar projects.

Urging the professionals to strive in meeting the expectations of the rural poor, President Kibaki noted that most of the construction materials were locally available, hence the need to price projects realistically.

He noted that many professionals were driven by the desire to make huge earnings, causing anguish to many Kenyans.

He challenged professionals to partner with government as the country embarked on an ambitious infrastructural development programme.

The Head of State told the professionals comprising architects, quantity surveyors, town planers, engineers, environmental design consultants and construction project managers that the government had channelled substantial funds through initiatives like the Constituency Development Fund.

The President noted there was need for prudent utilisation of the funds because of the many other public projects that needed funding across various sectors of the society.

Speaking during the occasion, Public Works Minister Chris Obure said the government was keen to work closely with the AAK particularly in developing the country’s infrastructure.

Mr Obure, however, decried the high rate at which qualified staff exited the public service for other lucrative appointments in the private sector, thus endangering the delivery of quality service to the public.

On his part, AAK Chairperson Mr Steven Oundo thanked President Kibaki and his government for rolling out one the most ambitious infrastructural development in the country’s history.

Mr Oundo affirmed that AAK was keen on partnering with the government in making Kenya a better country through the implementation of various development projects aimed at unlocking the country’s economic potential.

In attendance were Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, Public Works Permanent Secretary Prof John Lonyangapuo and other senior government officials.

Source: Daily Nation