Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has called for accountability on the Bongu-Raga water project in Karungu-Nyatike Sub County.
During a tour of the project area for an assessment on Thursday, Oketch was shocked by the minimal progress on the project in relation to the money allocated and spent, noting it was not a wonder the Auditor General had raised queries.
He revealed that Sh59.3 million was allocated in the 2023/2024 Financial Year (FY) and Sh24.9 million in 2024/25 for the water project.
Oketch was irked by the fact that so far the project has consumed Sh85 million yet water piping has not been completed, while the water kiosk obviously still remained non-operational.
“What I am witnessing here is a ghost project that has utilised public money for the benefits of a few individuals that do not have the interest of Bongu-Raga residents at heart,” said Oketch.
The legislator made it clear that what he was projecting was not a witch’s hand but rather a concern of why the public money had not served its intended purpose despite the adequate allocation of funds to the project.
He said that there was no value for money in the water project, fearing it had been turned into a cash cow for making money for a few individuals.
The Senator called upon Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko to explain to the residents of Bongu-Raga what happened to their water project and also answer the queries raised by the Auditor General.
The Auditor General queried the stalled water project, with incomplete end-to-end piping despite the Sh85million allocation.
The water project that will facilitate pumping of water from Lake Victoria has the potential to solve persistent water crises in the Karungu, Kachieng and Kanyasa areas in the larger Nyatike Sub County, providing water for both domestic use and small-scale irrigation.
By Makokha Khaoya
