- The leadership of Parliament is planning to secure the Bunge square and ensure smooth traffic flow.
- MPs have in the past complained of harassment by the public when passing aroud the precincts of Parliament.
Image: WETANG'ULA/X
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has unveiled an ambitious plan to secure the Parliament and its precincts to guarantee MPs and staff their safety.
Wetang'ula said on Monday that the Parliamentary Service Commission will ensure that the Parliament Buildings and surrounding areas are secure.
The new security push would restrict public access to Bunge Square as part of the measures to secure the area against security threats.
On Monday, the PSC which Wetang'ula chairs held talks with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to brief the county boss on the elaborate security plans.
“Today, I chaired a session with the PSC commissioners and Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja aimed at briefing the Nairobi City County government on PSC’s ambitious plans to secure parliament buildings and its surroundings,’’ Wetang'ula said.
The Speaker said that the plan is aimed at enhancing the security of the Parliament precincts, providing adequate office space for members and staff and ensuring smooth traffic flow.
During the meeting, the leaders deliberated on how to collaborate with the Nairobi City County to facilitate a seamless securing of the proposed Bunge Square area.
“We have involved the city county in our new plan because they have a role to play in ensuring a smooth completion of the project," he said.
The National Assembly speaker later led the team in touring the Bunge Towers complex.
The office block which was built on an acre of land adjacent to Continental House and County Hall cost the Kenyan taxpayers a whopping Sh8 billion.
Out of the 331 offices in the building, 280 will go to the National Assembly while 51 are preserved for the Senate.
The Speaker was accompanied by PSC commissioners, Johnstone Muthama, Mishi Mboko, Patrick Makau, and Rachel Ameso among other senior officers from both houses and Nairobi City County.
According to the new plan, the parliament area and its surroundings will undergo a major facelift with security stepped up.
This comes after Wetang’ula hosted the fifth and sixth PSC for a gala Dinner in Naivasha, Nakuru County on Saturday, February 17.
The gala dinner was a culmination of a successful two-day retreat for the Commission.
The retreat brought together the members of the fifth and sixth PSC where the Exit Report of the fifth Commission was presented and adopted.
Speaking during the dinner gala, Wetang’ula, said that he was glad to host the 8th Attorney General, Justin Muturi and members of the fifth Commission to the auspicious dinner.