Nairobi News

The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is seeking to name its new office block in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) through a naming competition.

In what can be termed as a public participation exercise, as required by the Constitution, PSC is offering Sh100,000 to anyone who will come up with a substantive name for the building.

“The PSC has identified the need to name the building in line with the constitutional mandate of Parliament. The Commission has determined and resolved that this can be achieved through a naming contest,” reads a notice signed by the commission’s Parliamentary Joint Services director-general.

The building is currently named Parliament Tower.

Below are the specifications the commission has set for the naming exercise.

1. The building cannot be named after an active person. A person must be full emeritus status (or deceased).
2. The name must be catchy, reflect constitutional values, the Parliamentary Service Commission stature and its legislative role.
3. If the name of a person is selected as the winning building name, the name/person will need to go through a due diligence process and seek legal approval for permission to use prior to commission approval.
4. The name should not be under copyright, trademark, or other legal restriction.
5. Any submissions deemed as vulgar, unprofessional, disingenuous, or otherwise maliciously motivated will be disqualified in Phase I before they are shared for Phase II.
6. All intellectual property rights to the name shall vest in the Parliamentary Service Commission once the competition is over and the winner is identified and awarded.

To enter the competition, interested Kenyans have been asked to download the submission forms at the parliament’s website and submit the duly-filled copy at Parliament’s tender box by next Monday, June 20. One can alternatively submit it via email to Parliament’s procurement office.

Developed by the PSC, the 26-floor office block is set on a one-acre plot between Continental House and County Hall, next to Parliament buildings. The prime piece of land was allocated to Parliament by the government in 2000.

The Parliament Tower, whose construction started in March 2014, is meant to provide offices for members of the National Assembly and the Senate.

The building, which includes a tunnel connecting it to the current Parliament buildings, was to be completed in 2017 but the project was delayed by some legal disputes. The issues were later resolved and the contractor – China Jiangxi Construction Company – is expected to hand over the building next month.