Delayed passing of bills to blame for stalled projects – Matiang’i

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i. [Photo, Standard]

The Legislature has set out to expedite pending bills crucial to the delivery of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda.

The National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee is lobbying for optimum legislative support towards realisation of the Big Four agenda.

A delegation led by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i met with the Senate Liaison Committee comprising Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and the chairs of various committees.

They meant to strike a partnership to solve legal and legislative issues hurting smooth delivery of government projects.

At the meeting, Matiang’i said crucial bills linked to project management are pending before the Legislature.

“Delays in passing them have seen contractors suffer cost overruns, thereby triggering huge financial penalties on the government’s part,” the CS said.

The CS appealed to lawmakers to expedite the proposed legislations to fast-track delivery of key programmes and projects.

Among the bills identified include The Food Security Bill 2017, Physical Planning, Irrigation, Kenya Roads, Public Private Partnerships and Warehouse Receipts System.

All the Bills were introduced between September and December of 2017.

However, Lusaka said some of the bills have been passed on to the National Assembly.

He pledged to push the remaining ones to the top of the Senate’s legislative priorities.

Matiang’i said the committee will reach out to the Council of Governors to deliberate the challenges hurting successful delivery of development projects.

The committee has flagged up financial mismanagement, limited space for civic participation and weak performance management as some of the challenges.