By David Ohito and David Ochami

Another political firestorm is building up after House Speaker Kenneth Marende wrote to members of the Grand Coalition Cabinet and Assistant ministers to forfeit their constituency offices at Continental House.

Questions are being raised whether ministers, who have refused to relinquish their offices, would give up the limousines that exceed 1800cc as proposed by Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta in his Budget statement. The Speaker said the order meant to ‘ease the problem of office space in Parliament’ was a resolution of the 115th meeting of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) – on January 15.

However, the Speaker now concedes the order he also sent out to the 12 party parliamentary nominees in the House is facing resistance from the recipients.

The argument of PSC, which he chairs, was simple: these members have other government offices from which they could work.

The move could stoke the dying embers of his decision to reject the President’s choice of Vice President as Leader of Government Business— then stirring some accusations he was undermining the Executive.

The decision could also put the Chair on collision course with the 40 ministers, 50 Assistant ministers and PSC members who constitute at least 46 per cent of the 222-chamber House.

The situation could be complicated by the fact that Parliament is, despite the country’s new frugal policy in the light of the worsening economic conditions and global economic crunch, splashing Sh100 million on ‘institutional residence for the Speaker’.

But one could argue it is not just the Speaker’s office that is being placated, for the same Budget also sets aside Sh350m for construction of ‘the first phase of an office block for Members (MPs) and Staff (PSC employees). The other odd expenditure Parliament has planned for this financial year includes Sh61m footbridge — to directly link their three workplaces: County Hall, Continental House and Parliament. With that in place, they may not have to brush shoulders with their constituents and those who prefer hanging around Parliament Buildings, stretching out hands for handouts.

Trouble began brewing when the Speaker through a letter dated May 22 asked the Ministers, Assistant ministers and Commissioners of the PSC to surrender the offices. They have however resisted the move — except the PSC members who made the decision and will be affected.

Parliament itself is faced with acute shortage of office space after hiring new staff in various departments. Establishment of Offices of the Prime Minister and those of two Government Chief whips compounded matters. Marende’s letter read in part: "During the 115th meeting of the Commission of 15th January 2009, the Commission considered the issue of shortage of offices and it was resolved that Ministers, Assistant Ministers and Commissioners give up their offices in Continental House to ease congestion."

It went on: "The purpose of this letter is to request you to kindly give up your offices in Continental House to ease the problem of office space in Parliament."

But as Marende expected a positive response from the ministers, reports indicated they were reluctant to give up the offices, throwing Parliament’s administrative plans into disarray.

Competition for office space was added fire when the National Accord was signed and created new offices, which had to be represented in Parliament.

Too precious

Housing Minister Mr Soita Shitanda when reached for comment said he received the letter but considered the office too precious to relinquish. "I am better off keeping my Continental Office because that is where I bond with my constituents," Shitanda said.

Our investigations found out that several workers employed by the PSC go about their duties from corridors of Parliament or even at the lounge.

Worse still, the affected staff includes bodyguards, drivers and personal assistants of the ministers who hang around the corridors or opt to operate from their vehicles in the parking lot.

Marende confirmed requesting ministers to give up their constituency offices at Continental House in Nairobi and disclosed most were reluctant to do so.

According to Marende the ministers were asked to give up their offices to accommodate many MPs without offices at Continental House.

He said the rationale for asking them to give up the offices "is that ministers have offices elsewhere." He also said he wrote letters to ministers informing them to cooperate. "Some MPs are not accommodated and this includes nominated members of Parliament," said the Speaker who also disclosed that Continental House should also host Kenya’s MPs at the East Africa Legislative Assembly. "They are representatives of Kenya at the East Africa Legislative Assembly so they need offices," he argued.

Marende said the request for space was neither strange nor unusual although most ministers have not cooperated.

"A few ministers have told us they are willing to surrender the offices (at Continental House) but a majority are reluctant. They say they use the offices to see their constituents and transact constituency business."

Marende said Parliament has found some space for ‘stranded’ MPs at Harambee Plaza. "

Some MPs have taken offices on Harambee Plaza," he revealed.

A member of the PSC said, comprehensive plans to modernise Parliament were underway and expected to start later this year.