Court stops MPs 26-storey office tower

The office space shortage facing Parliament is likely to press on after the High Court extended orders barring a Chinese company from building a 26-storey office block. Judges Rose Ougo, Weldon Korir and Roseline Korir Tuesday extended orders stopping the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) from further works on the office tower on a one-acre piece of land adjacent to Parliament buildings, between Continental House and County Hall in Nairobi.
"The status quo to be maintained and that no further works to be conducted by any contractor with regards to the tender awarded as this is the subject of this dispute, pending the hearing and determination of this case," Justice Korir said. PSC lawyers said they feared public money could be lost because seven sub-contractors had been paid to start the jobs under the main contract.

The judges directed the petitioner Milicons Limited to commit within seven days to meet damages to PSC if the challenge on the tender award was not successful. The judges also dismissed an application by a lobby group —the Kenya Federation of Master builders — to be enjoined in the suit. The case will be heard on December 3.