Olkaria Development Staff to Get a New Home

The Olkaria geothermal resource development staff are soon moving into a new geothermal complex. This is due to the expansion of the 280 MW project and the need to move the staff away from Hell’s Gate national park with the aim of conserving nature and wild life.

The construction of the complex began in July 2013 and was designed as five distinct housing units, including an office unit and, laboratories, training center, hostels and workshop.

According to Godwin Odhiambo, a senior engineer at Olkaria who had been monitoring the project says that, the workshop has been functional since it was handed to KenGen in November ,2014, and the laboratories were handed over in February 2015.

The current Polaris offices which were built in the 1980s became overstretched giving the company more reasons to expand, since the staff exceed capacity. As much as staff members need more space not all of them will need it, some are based in the field and do not require permanent office space.

The geothermal complex will have a standard parking. With most staff living nearby, they are expected to walk to work.

In addition, there will be a Stima Sacco branch and a bank located in one wing next to the public entrance for use by both public and KenGen staff.