Sh14m goes to waste as Kisumu health facility demolished

The Kosao Health Centre in Kisumu that is to be demolished for being unfit for human occupation. The project had gobbled up Sh15 million. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A health centre that cost tax payers Sh14 million is set for demolition over poor workmanship.

The Kisumu County government has ordered that the two-storey Kosawo Health Centre in Kondele be brought down and rebuilt a new.

County Secretary Dr Olang’o Onudi has written to the Department of Health and Public Works ordering the demolition as it emerged that the county government will use another Sh8 million to rebuild the facility, whose construction started in 2005.

The order does not however mention if any action will be taken against the contractor and government engineers that supervised the project.

Too weak

“Following a report received from the Department of Roads, Transport and Public Works on the structural integrity of Kosawo Health Centre Building and our subsequent site visits, inspection and meetings with the stakeholders held on October 4, 2018 it was resolved that the building was too weak, stands condemned and should immediately be demolished,” read the letter in part.

Two years ago, the Kisumu County government brought down the Multi-Million Maendeleo Market near the main bus park after it was declared unfit for human habitation due to poor workmanship. It had gobbled Sh10 million from the then Kisumu Municipal Council by the time it stalled.No one was prosecuted over the matter. 

Yesterday, area MCA Oketch Swagga admitted to having participated in the investigations which found the building unfit for usage, and subsequently recommending its demolition.

He however said due to the urgent need to have the hospital in place, they have resorted to immediately commence reconstruction work, even as they begin to pursue those liable for the shoddy work.

“Anybody who played part in this will have to face the law. They are thugs and must be made to return the money they had been paid,” he said.

The facility adds to the long list of projects that millions of shillings have been wasted on, especially with the transition from municipal councils to county governments.

The state of stalled projects initiated by the defunct Kisumu Municipal Council has become a cause for concern, with residents claiming that the county government is not keen on completing them.

Despite huge investments by the former municipal council in projects across the county, such projects have remained neglected.

The markets, dispensaries and roads have become white elephants and residents argue that the premises could be vulnerable for grabbing.

Condemned structures

Every year, the  county has pumped money to initiate new projects while neglecting nearly complete ones.

Most of the projects are almost complete but remain neglected as completed ones operate below capacity while some have since been condemned.

Other projects that have been abandoned include the Sh18.6 million Kombewa market, Sh18.2 Pap Onditi market and the Sh18.2 million Korowe market.