The government is contemplating re-awarding contracts for stalled road construction projects in Kisii County as an option to address challenges hindering completion of various government projects in the area.
The Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC), James Kianda and Senior Delivery Director from the Presidential Delivery Unit, Ms. Truphosa Awuor led the Nyanza Regional Development Coordination Committee on a visit to two stalled road projects in the county to seek to address challenges hindering progress.
The team in conjunction with the County Development Implementation Committee visited the stalled roads totaling 101 kms and on which Sh. 400million had already been allocated.
They include Keboko- Nyangusu-Nyamache- Nyacheki, and, Omoringamu- Kenyenya-Motonto-Paraineye- Mesesi- Tabaka-Bonyancha-Iyabe -Sengera- Nyakoiba roads.
Addressing residents at Kenyenya shopping centre, Kianda termed as a disservice to the taxpayers when such development stalled but assured them development activities like transportation of tea leaves to factories will go on smoothly once action is taken soon.
The RC noted corruption was at play in procedures used to issue some contracts for government projects but assured that the president had moved to arrest the challenges by forming the committees.
“Possibilities for blacklisting perpetual defaulters and trouble makers who hinder development should be explored through the National Construction Authority,” said Kianda.
The team was informed the project worth Sh. 1.4billion had only 1.5% of the work done since the work was awarded three years.
This was before termination of works by Kenya Urban roads Authority (KURA) for the contractor who had similar challenges with other contracts in Nandi and Machakos counties.
The contractor had gone to court over allegations of un-procedural contract termination but the court requested him and the KURA to solve the matter out of court although an agreement is yet to be reached.
The County PDU Director, Melchizedeck Onguso requested that the contractor and the assignee be given between one and two weeks to solve the matter so that construction works can resume soon.
By Jane Naitore
