Although established only a few years ago, the parklane construction company has quickly established itself as one of the top players in the industry. It is already registered by the National Construction Authority (NCA) as NCA1 which is the highest category by the government regulator. This classification qualifies Parklane to undertake construction works of unlimited value. This company is a clear illustration of what they say; your network is your networth.
In its website portfolio;
“The fast rise of Parklane can largely be attributed to the leadership of Mr Ghanshyam Patel. Mr Patel, who holds a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Gujrat University, is an immensely experienced professional with at least 25 years working in the construction industry in Kenya. He is therefore conversant with virtually every aspect of construction, including a deep understanding of contracts, government regulations, labour laws and customer relations. He is also adept at engaging other professionals in order to realize his goals.
Prior to establishing Parklane, Mr Patel was a project manager at NK Brothers, another contractor playing in the top league. During his more than 20 years with the company, Mr Patel was responsible for the day to day running of projects, with particular emphasis on workmanship and materials control. It was also his duty to ensure the growth of the company by attracting new clients while retaining old ones. His other duties included cultivating the company’s reputation in the industry, leading and motivating the management team, developing business plans, liaising with government departments and keeping control of expenditure among many other major responsibilities.
Among the projects Mr Patel successfully handled while with NK Brothers include NHIF Building, Teachers Service Commission Headquarters and Commercial Bank of Africa, all of which are major landmarks in the Upper Hill area of Nairobi. Other include Ngara Civil Servants Housing, NHC Langata, Bishop Gate and Awori Centre.
It was therefore no surprise that when Parklane Construction Limited was established, it almost instantly began enjoying a steady flow of jobs. Mr Patel’s reputation and his numerous contacts with other professionals such as architects, quantity surveyors and engineers came in handy for the young firm.
The consultants he has had a chance to work have clear faith in him as demonstrated by their testimonials. Tectura international’s Dr Reuben Mutiso says: “He is dependable and honest. We unreservedly recommend him”. “We find Mr Ghanshyam to be competent, sincere and effective”, says another architectural firm, Harbans Singh Associates.
Some completed projects
Parklane has therefore been able to establish itself as a formidable contactor and has bagged multiple multi-million Ksh projects since inception. These include Relocation Units and Safety Infrastructure for R.A.P. Project at Kibera (worth Ksh 580,000,000), office block in Nakuru for Gilani’s Supermarket (Ksh 347,000,000) and factory and godowns in Thika for African Spirits (more than Ksh 295,000,000. Others are extensions to Premier Academy in Nairobi and interior works at Delta Corner in Nairobi.
Some ongoing projects
The company is currently engaged in one of its largest projects so far – the construction of BATUK Units at Nanyuki for the British Army. This contract is worth more than 1.2 billion shillings and construction works are expected to take at least 104 weeks from November last year.
Another large ongoing project is the Airmac Hotel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The contract sum is more than Ksh 622 million. Other large projects underway include a community centre in Loresho, a mixed use development for Henkel Kenya, Avenue Healthcare Hospital and a pharmaceutical plant, all running into hundreds of millions in Kenya shillings.”
However, Parklane Construction Limited is causing jitters amidst increasing concerns that it could be involved in unorthodox means to bag multi billion shillings projects. Whistle blowers want the company investigated over possible forgery, misrepresentation of facts, lack of approvals and corrupt practices linked to the company that was founded in 2013 and owned by a Ghanshaym Patel.
The company in its portfolio as stated before— boasts of giving their peers in the industry a run for their money despite the fact that it’s still fresh in the market. However, investigations reveal that Patel could be an expert of underworld operations – cabal based on numerous red flags on how the company wins big tenders. If the allegations are anything to go by, then matters to do with runaway Kickbacks and PR overdrive in favour of Parklane Construction firm cannot be immediately ruled out but that is subjected to investigations by relevant authorities including the Ethic and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Also at the centre of debate is the Civil Engineering degree held by Patel that was reportedly issued by Gujrat University and which he has used to secure many jobs and prestigious for the tenders.
Fresh details have also emerged that Parklane Construction Company fraudulently won the multimillion shillings Stoni Athi Housing project phase 2 which is funded by a loan from ABSA Bank.
According to our sources who sought anonymity, the award of the project to Parklane is fraud and should be immediately stopped as part of measures to save the National Housing Corporation from collapse due to such dubious deals.
There are allegations that the NHC gave a contract of Stoni Athi Phase 2 at an inflated tender of S750 million to Parklane Construction Limited late last year for only 160 housing units.
According to sources, the tender was given despite other tenders of lower amounts from competent, experienced constructors who quoted Up below Sh600 million. The tipsters through anonymous letter sent to an our newsdesk stated that NHC in the process lost over Sh150 million of of public money and project saving by this fraudulent act.
Accordingly, tender was manipulated to disqualify other competent contractors to benefit Parklane which is accused of having given erroneous information on his tender of previous housing experience also on NHC projects.
This is said to be a lie since since Parklane has never done any work for the NHC despite giving this and information believed to have majorly given the company unfair advantage mill by getting marks in evaluation than other bidders.
Parklane is also accused of giving false information in tender of other capabilities. Prior to establishing Parklane, Acad Patel was a project manager at NK Brothers, another contractor which is doubted.
During his more than 20 years with the the company, Patel was responsible the day-to-day running of projects, with particular emphasis on workmanship and materials control.
Among the projects Patel influenced while with NK Brothers Airm include NHIF Building, Teachers Service Commission headquarters and Commercial Bank of Africa, all of which are major landmarks in the Upper Hill area of Nairobi. Others include Ngara Civil Servants Housing, NHC Langata, Bishop Gate and Awori Centre.
Apparently, Patel took advantage of the fact that the company he previously worked for, NK brothers, participated in NHC Langata project, to give a lie attributing the project to his current renegade Parklane Company.
There are calls for Parklane to be also investigated over previous multi billion shillings projects it has bagged since inception.
These include Relocation Units is and Safety Infrastructure for RAP Project at Kibera worth Sh580 million, office block in Nakuru for Gilani’s Supermarket Sh370 million and factory and godowns in Thika for African Spirits of more than Sh295 million.
Others are extensions of Premier Academy in Nairobi and interior works at Delta Corner in Nairobi.
The company also won one of its largest projects so far which is the construction of Batuk units at Nanyuki for the British Army worth of more than Sh1.2 billion.
Another large project won by the Parklane and which should be investigated is the Sh622 million Airmac Hotel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Other large projects by Parklane include a community centre in he Loresho, a mixed use development for Henkel Kenya, Avenue Healthcare Hospital and a pharmaceutical plant, Co ca, all running into hundreds of millions by of shilling.
It is alleged that the information the he that Parklane used fraudulent means to win the tender in question was known to the National Housing beneficiaries of heavy kickbacks in such deals.
The budget for the project was Sh700 million which was to be divided between phases of the project of 100 units each but was changed to one project of fewer units of 160 at an inflated award of Sh750 million, against the public finance management act.
There are fears that the project was rushed to award Parklane despite feasibility studies indicating such a project is not viable since the NHC has not been successful to sell past completed projects on the same land turning them into rental units.
One of such completed projects was on loan from ABSA Bank and to save face the corporation had to rely on internal money to pay off the loan. NHC awarded the tender in a rush despite no approvals being given to proceed by Machakos environmental management authority.
The NHC is mandated to offer affordable housing under president Uhuru Kenyatta’s big four agenda but seems to have chosen to do housing projects against the government’s policy.
A unit cost of construction only for this project is Sh4.70 million and this is excluding other costs like interest payments, supervision among others, and this cost alone is much higher Mr than current market prices of units in the area and this confirms the feasibility studies on the unviability of the project on sale terms.
It appears that the biggest risk be facing the NHC is inability to sell the units on completion as its facing on completed projects in the area leading to default on the ABSA loan and and possible auction by ABSA bank to recover its money.
But as a pointer to the fact that the Parklane Construction Limited could be involved in fishy deals, Kenya insights bumped into a prototype saga involving a multibillion shilling tender by the Konza City Development Authority.
Other bidders protested that the tender to build a conference facility was unfairly awarded awarded to Patel’s HC company which bidded Sh1.43 billion for the job.
The tender which saw a total of 18 bidders participate, was sharply ects influenced by another developer, and Millicon Limited which claimed it was locked out unfairly by the authority the and even sought redress from the regulator.
But to their shock, the procurement regulator approved ntal the tender in favour of Parklane Company, which now boasts to be the offer big boy in the industry, ostensibly due dent its maneuvering tactics.
It is imperative to note that Millicon Limited had bid Sh1.39 billion for the job against Parklane’s Sh1.43 billion. The Public Procurement this Administrative Review Board comprising chairperson, Faith Waigwa and members Nicholas Mruttu and Ambrose Ogetto, units however, ruled that the Konza City the Development Authority did not bility breach any procurement laws when awarding the contract to Parklane.
The underdealings at NHC is Il perfected by Patrick Bucha, the acting managing director, Joel Gatune a, general manager (finance division) and John Washington Akumu (general manager estate). Others are Edwin Njeru (internal audit manager), Robert Ambuku acting general manager manufacturing division and Thomas Ofwa (general manager – technical services).
William Keitany the corporation 5- secretary and Moraa Ongeri acting corporate planning manager are said at to have been sidelined in mega deals. Bucha even boasts of how he has pocketed NHC directors and it is just a matter of time he will be confirmed to the position.
