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UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
ESTATES DEPARTMENT
NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO.1 2012- 2013
Table of Contents
1. Message from the Estates Manager
2. List of Events Tree planting proposal at Tigoni Launch of UoN Tower Tree planting
3. Staff News Promotions New Appointments Achievements
4. Trainings
Message from the Estates Manager
Welcome to the Estates Department inaugural edition of the Newsletter Issue No. 1. The
newsletters will be produced biannually and will aim at providing useful information to the
readers.
Who we are
The Estates Department is charged with the responsibility of managing the University’s
properties, utilities and maintaining the housing registry and records of both landed property and
facilities.
The Estates Department is committed to supporting the University in meeting its Vision, Mission
and Core Values by providing effective and efficient services to our Customers.
The Department is committed through its charter to deliver high quality services to its clients and
to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
Your comments on our newsletter are highly welcomed.
TRACISIO. M. THUITA
ESTATES MANAGER
A. EVENTS
Upcoming Events 2012-2013 Financial Year:
1. Tree Planting Project Proposal-2013
PreambleThe total forest cover globally has diminished rapidly from 30% of the total land mass in 1895 tojust 1.7% today. In Kenya, over exploitation has increased over the past 3 decades .The countryis therefore experiencing global warming largely due to destruction of forest cover. Theenvironmental management team from estates department intent to make the university a betterplace to live by cutting old and dangerous trees and replacing them. That’s why we a proposingto start a tree nursery. This will enable us to have tree seedlings and whenever we cut down treeswe can easily replace them. Secondly a tree nursery will be cost effective since the cost ofpurchasing one indigenous tree seedling ranges 300-450 shillings.
Plant Nursery A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to a usable size .This will be a plantnursery which will supply the needs of the institution. The trees both indigenous and exotic willbe propagated by seed, and this project will be carried out at Tigoni guest house.
Why Tigoni Guest house?• There is adequate space• There is water availability• There is security• Well drained high land• Good communication facilities• Fertile red soil
Objectives
• To participate in environmental conservation within the university.• To ensure our indigenous trees are not extinct.
The following activities will be carried out:
• Bed Preparation• Seeding• Transplanting
The project will be carried out during the rainy season. The date will be communicated in duecourse.
Past Events-2012-2013 FY
2. Chandaria UoN Towers Ground Breaking Ceremony.
The launch of the Chandaria UoN Towers was held on Friday May, 2013 at the University ofNairobi Main Campus grounds.
The event marked yet another giant stride for the University of Nairobi when the University's topmanagement and the Chancellor Dr. Joseph Wanjui presided over the ground breaking ceremonyof the massive 21storey Tower named Chandaria University Towers at the main UniversityCampus. The Towers will be situated in the open space between the Gandhi Building andEducation Building, just adjacent to the Norfolk Fairmont Hotel and Kenya National Theatre.
The Towers will accommodate the increasing academic activities and administrative services.The 21 floors with learning facilities will accommodate 3000 students and house facilities thatinclude the Vice-Chancellor’s Suite, Senate Boardroom, Council Meeting Room, one lecturetheatres of 500 persons, four lecture theatres of 300 persons, and several lecture rooms to caterfor a minimum of 60 persons, a floor for the Graduate School and a floor for the GraduateSchool of Business. It will also have a helipad.
The Estate Department was well represented by the Estate Manager Mr. Tracisio M. Thuita
The department will closely monitor its progress since it will be charged with the building’sfacilities management upon completion.
Artistic impression of the Tower Guests at the event
3. Tree Planting
In early November 2012, the University of Nairobi Estates Department staff planted 100indigenous trees within the University’s Mamlaka compound and the area next to the graduationCourt.
Not only is the initiative an important University activity as it is part of the Universityperformance contract requirement but also a contribution to greening the environment. Thedepartment endeavors to plant more trees to enhance environmental sustainability.
The event was organized and headed by the University’s Landscaping Officer (Mrs Anne Mulee)who together with the staff members have continued to work tirelessly to ensure the University’senvironment remains up to standard.
Mr. Tracisio Thuita, The Estates Manager, thanked the staff members for their efforts inconserving the environment through planting trees. He also encouraged the members to holdmore of such events and also to encourage and participate at their community level in suchactivities since it the only way to conserve our environment.
From Left Standing: Ms. Dephina Sirako, Mr. Limo, Mr. Ruhara, Mr. Thuita (EM), Mr.John Kimani, Ms. Jane Kamande, Ms. Lucy Gachara (DEM), Mr. Clifford, Ms. Nellie Muchene,Ms. Anne Mulee
From Left kneeling in front: Ms. Serah Ngugi, Ms. Defence Mwakondo
Team at Work!
B. STAFF NEWS
1. Professional News
The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) Conducted its 44th Annual General Meeting andAnnual Dinner Dance at Sarova Panafric Hotel on 26th April 2013 at the Panafric Sarova Hotel.
The Chief Guest was the Executive Director of UN-Habitat Dr.Joan Clos who gave an addresson the ''The Role of the landed professional in tackling informal settlements. Other speecheswere from Ms. Anna Tufvesson, Senior Programme Manager Water and Land, Embassy ofSweden, Hon. John Kihagi, M.P. Naivasha and currently the Deputy Vice Chairman of ISK. Dr.Swazuri Mohammed, chairman of land commission, and Senator Levy Kivuti of Embu County.
The council led by the Chairman Mr Collins Kowor made various presentations which includedthe ISK Committees i.e. Professional Practice and Ethics and Education, Finance andProfessional Ethics.
The turn up of the event was about 80% of the ISK members on which four members fromEstates Department who are also members of the professional body attended. They included Mr.Tracisio Thuita-Estates Manager, Mrs. Lucy Gachara-Deputy Estates Manager, Mr. OgutuMaiko-Estates Officer and Ms Violet Misiko-Estates Officer.
In attendance were other members of parliament who are also ISK members i.e. Hon GeorgeOgalo (Muhoroni), Hon. Njuguna Humphrey (Gatanga) and Mr. Ephantus Murage, the Directorof Survey in the Ministry of Lands.
The occasion provided members an avenue for networking and exchange of ideas from differentfields. The members who attended gained Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
43 Members from different chapters (Land Management, Building Surveyors, Land Surveyorsand Valuation Estates Management and Surveyors (VEMS) Chapters.) of ISK qualified to be fullmembers after sitting for the ISK professional exams held last year in August.
Our own Mr. Ogutu Maiko attained ISK full membership in the VEMS chapter. He wasawarded a diploma certificate by Hon Senator Kivuti and was witnessed by Dr Joan Clos, theExecutive Director Un-Habitat.
Certificate Award session
We wish to thank the University Administration for the continuous support they have given tothe department by sponsoring and allowing members to attend the occasion.
2. New AppointmentsA new member of staff was appointed to the department. Ms. Violet Misiko joined thedepartment in February 2013 as an Estates Officer. Violet was officially welcomed in adepartmental meeting held on 6th February at the department’s boardroom.
The estates manager welcomed her and introduced her to the staff members. Her orientation wasfacilitated by the estate department’s assistant administrator Ms. Dephina Sirako.
3. Achievements/Activities of the Department in the current financial year 2012-2013
§ The 2012 valuation of all University of Nairobi properties either on freehold or longleasehold was successful. This is an activity conducted after every five (5) years for bookpurposes.
The Valuation Team
• Fire assembly points have been clearly marked in all the campuses
Fire assembly point at Main campus
§ All firefighting equipment have been serviced periodically as per the maintenanceschedules.
Fire extinguisher with inspection record
§ The cleaning and ground maintenance services have been outsourced to CreativeConsolidated Systems Limited while Zoa Taka Limited collects garbage.
Well maintained grounds Zoa Taka bins installed at various locations w
§ The department has processed four (4) title documents and§ So far the department has undertaken five (5) rental assessment valuations to determine
the fair market rent in the following areas:Ø Kiambu townØ Nairobi Central Business District - Catholic Parochial School, Kenya Science
campusØ Litein’s Bureti Savings and Cooperative Society which was occupied by Litein
Extra Mural Sub-Centre.
Ø Kericho’s Serengeti Multi Purpose Mall Proposed to be occupied by KerichoExtra Mural Sub-Centre.
Ø Homabay’s Kavirondo Plaza which is currently occupied by Homabay ExtraMural Sub-Centre
§ The Department has processed five (5) leasehold agreements for the Leased premises:Ø Mega Plaza, College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ School of EconomicsØ Mega City-College of Education and External Studies’ Kisumu Extra Mural
CentreØ Central Square Premises’ College of Education and Social SciencesØ Kavirondo Plaza’s Homabay Extra Mural Sub Centre College of Education and
Social SciencesØ Wanjau Enterprises’Embu Extra Mural Sub-Centre, College of Education and
Social Sciences
C. Trainings
In this financial year, several trainings have been undertaken aimed at improving the staffefficiency and effectiveness. The estates department staff members have all attended differenttrainings depending on the staff’s nature of work. The trainings are normally organized eitherinternally (by various departments in the university) or externally by professional bodies i.eInstitution of Surveyors of Kenya. They include:
Types of Training
Prevention of HIV/AIDS infections
Sensitization on gender mainstreaming, Alcohol and Drug /substance abuse
Fire Fighting
Records Management
Sign language
Sensitization on Anti corruption and Integrity Issues
Team Building
Customer service
Real estate Agency Training
Website training
Article/Comments are welcome and shall be sent to editorial team through;
Estates Manager
University of Nairobi
P.O. Box 30197-00100
NAIROBI
Tel: +254 020 318262 Ext. 28367
Fax: +254 020 316658
E-mail:
Website: http://estates.uonbi.ac.ke/