A parliamentary committee has asked the contractor of the Sh4.92 billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College to ensure it does not stall.
The college will serve as the second national tourism training college to complement the Kenya Utalii College.
It will offer more specialised training in fields such as cruise tourism and leisure. It will also introduce refresher courses that target players who are already in the industry but may not have had any formal training.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee (PIC) said it was determined to ensure taxpayers get value for their money in the various public investments and projects underway across the country.
The college project, which is fully funded by the taxpayer, once complete is expected to be a model college for tourism and hospitality. It will also include a hotel complete with full trappings of a five star resort for practical training as well as revenue generating venture.
The construction is undertaken by the Tourism Fund TF, the successor of the Catering Tourism and Development Levy Trustees (CTDLT).
SITE VISIT
During a site visit to the college under construction in Vipingo, Kilifi County, on Saturday PIC chairman Adan Keynan said: “We want to stamp out wasteful variation in costs and stalling of projects in the construction industry through properly contextualised feasibility studies”.
TF board members were led by newly appointed chairman Henry Kosgey.
Mr Keynan insisted as a watchdog committee, PIC was keen to ensure value for money is at the centre when planning for major projects to avoid spiralling costs and stalling of projects due to poor planning.
He said public sector construction should be designed in such a way that it improves value for money and drive out unnecessary cost and waste in the construction process.
Project consultant Dominic Mosanya of Baseline Architects told PIC that despite delays, they hope to finish first phase works by March 2018.
But Mr Mosanya complained of perpetual delays in the disbursement of funds by National Treasury which could have a bearing on the progress of work by the contractor - Mulji Devraj and Brothers Company.
The first phase entails the construction of two tuition blocks, two hostels, an administration block and staff quarters. Mr Kosgey said the college will be a game changer.
