The construction of Kisumu County Assembly’s new chambers is 80 percent complete and is expected to be finished by mid-July, according to Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro.
Mr Oraro made the announcement during an inspection tour of the site alongside Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and Assembly Clerk Owen Ojuok.
He said the ultra-modern complex will cost Sh520 million once completed, adding that about KSh320 million has already been spent on the project.
Mr Oraro said the new facility will include a modern debating chamber, offices for the Speaker, Clerk, Majority Leader and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), as well as a restaurant, sauna, multipurpose hall and standby power house.
According to the Speaker, the multipurpose hall will accommodate about 300 people, while the ground-floor restaurant will have seating for around 100 guests.
Separate entrances will also be provided for VIPs and members of the public. Mr Oraro said he was satisfied with the progress made by the contractor.
Governor Nyong’o also praised the pace of construction and said he expected to officially open the new chambers in September after final finishing works are completed.
He attributed the project’s progress to improved cooperation between the County Assembly and the Executive.
“There have been futile attempts by previous Assembly leadership to put up this facility because there was a disconnect between the two arms of the county government,” Prof Nyong’o said.
The new Assembly complex is being built in Milimani, next to Tom Mboya Labour College, to replace the current chambers, which date back to the colonial era.
The foundation stone for the existing Assembly building was laid on 25 June 1949 by K.L. Hunter, then Provincial Commissioner of Nyanza, during the African District Council era.
The county officials say the ageing building has become inadequate, forcing the Assembly to rent office space for some departments because of limited capacity.
The new complex is expected to provide more office space and improved working conditions for Members of the County Assembly and staff.
The Commission on Revenue Allocation had previously issued guidelines capping the cost of constructing county assembly buildings at KSh500 million.
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