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The Kosao Health Centre in Kisumu that is to be demolished for being unfit for human occupation. [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.
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 mention if any action will be taken against the contractor and government engineers who 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,” the letter reads in part.
Two years ago, the Kisumu County government brought down the multi-million shilling Maendeleo Market near the main bus park after it was declared unfit for human habitation due to poor workmanship.
The then Kisumu Municipal Council had spent Sh10 million on it by the time it stalled. No one was prosecuted.
MCA Oketch Swagga admitted to having participated in the investigations which found the building unfit for usage, and recommended its demolition.
He however said due to the urgent need to have the hospital in place, they have resorted to commence reconstruction work immediately, even as they begin to pursue those responsible for the shoddy work.
“Anybody who played part in this will have to face the law. They are thugs and must refund 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 Municipal Council in projects across Kisumu, the county government has neglected them.
Markets, dispensaries and roads have been neglected and residents argue that the premises could be grabbed.
Condemned structures
Every year, the county initiates new projects while neglecting ones that are almost complete.
Most of the projects are nearly complete but are neglected while the completed ones operate below capacity and others 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.
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