The World Bank announced a grant of US$30mn fund for the construction of a complex in Nairobi in Kenya, which will consist of four office blocks covering 35,000 sq m area, a 500-seater auditorium and a service building
The Chinese firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) will be responsible for the construction of the mega complex which is being supervised by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
According to KeNHA, the complex will house will house the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura), the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), the Engineers Board of Kenya, the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
Following the Public Procurement Administrative and Review Board’s (PPARB) dismissal of an application in court by local contractor Parbat Siyani Construction Ltd, KeNHA is currently responsible for the project works.
Although the location of the complex was not mentioned, the tender documents noted that AVIC is required to complete works in 15 months. According to KeNHA, it will then monitor the project site for the 12 months after occupation to check for any defects.
AVIC, through its subsidiary China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (CATIC), won the bidding process in a pool of 19 contractors in 2016.
The state-run Chinese aerospace and defence company ranked 159th in the Fortune Global 500 lists. The company provides services to customers in many sectors, ranging from research and development to operation, manufacturing and financing. According to the company, their business units cover defence, transport aircrafts, helicopters, avionics and systems, general aviation, research and development, flight testing, trade and logistics, assets management, finance services, engineering and construction, automobiles and more.
