Nairobi County Assembly is planning to acquire a state-of-the-art Mace with a touch of 18 carrat gold.
Already, the tender for the acquisition of the Mace and other items have been published on the Assembly’s website, inviting them to table their bids by February 12.
For starters, Mace is symbol of the power of the House of Representatives which at the start of each sitting day is carried into the Assembly by the sergeant-At-Arms and placed on the central table.
According to the Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2023-2024, it will cost Sh30 million to acquire 18-carat gold-plated mace.
At the same time, there are plans to construct an armory and security vaults for the County Assembly.
A section of MCAs however argue that the plans to acquire the Mace are long overdue while a section of the members have faulted the plans.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, while reacting on X (formerly Twitter), condemned the plans, citing that there were other pressing needs instead of acquiring the golden mace.
According to description in the tender documents, the top of the Mace should be a pointed pyramid design mounted with three solid brass engraved Nairobi County crests visible from either side.
The description says the crest should be engraved in a 3-dimensional base relief style, polished, brushed, and sandblasted texture to enhance its beauty.The crests to be gilded with 18 carrat yellow gold, the document adds.
“Supporting the crest will be the Mace’s neck made up of four solid brass struts appearing four times round the Mace,”
Adding in part , “each strut should be platted in 18 carrat gold; the neck be platted with 18ct gold and will house the four stones.
The miniature crests should have a Kenya National Coat of arms crest to appear four times around the Mace shaft.
“The crests will be manufactured in solid brass, be filled with colour, vitreous enameling and platted in 18ct gold,’ the tender documents describes.
The Mace shaft will be split into six pieces, each manufactured in brass and platted silver.
