Rehabilitating and renovation of AU-IBAR Office premise At Kenindia Business Park Building Museum Hill, Westands Road Nairobi, Kenya

The Government of Kenya has accommodated AU/IBAR in Maendeleo House since 1980, aperiod covering 25 years. The building has greatly deteriorated over the last five years a asresult of poor management. The tenants have suffered from perennial water shortage, poormaintenance, poor safety standards, particularly as regards the lifts. Despite several complaintsparticularly about maintenance to the Management of Maendeleo House, the situation did notimprove. In addition Maendeleo House has not been able to provide ample and appropriateparking for AU/IBAR Moreover the building hosts all kinds of different tenants.Another factor was that over the years, the AU/IBAR core and Project staff complementincreased, resulting in demands for more space. Some departments were forced to rent spaceoutside the building, which led to lack of team-work, and coordination, increasedcommunication costs wastage of time. The total office space in Maendeleo House is 11,000 sq.ft while the real needs of the organization are at least 20,000 sq ftFrom the year 2003, lack of water and non-operational lifts became consistent. As a result ofthis, the host Government declined to renew the lease on a long term basis and decided to payrent on a monthly basis till such time as AU/IBAR found alternative office accommodation.There was a general consensus that the office accommodation in the building did not befit thecorporate image of a reputable diplomatic mission or organization. Moreover most of theprivate organizations and Government offices previously accommodated in the building optedto move out to more appropriate office environments.After several meetings with the host Government, AU/IBAR was given the green light to goahead and identify suitable premises and then notify the Government of Kenya for necessaryaction and follow up.