Matiang'i: 199 projects stall over differences

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i(c), Governor of Councils chairman Wycliffe Oparanya(r), Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and other Governors look on when he addressed the media after having a closed door meeting with Governors on matters of National Development, at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.

Poor coordination has stalled close to 200 projects in counties, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has said.

Matiang'i who spoke yesterday during a meeting of governors and Cabinet Secretaries in Nairobi said unless national and county governments work together, little development will be achieved.

“Some 199 projects have stalled. Progress has been affected by matters yet to be ironed out between national and county governments,” said Matiang’i, who spoke after a three-hour consultative meeting on development between county bosses and the CSs.

He said: "Some of these issues have been resolved but not to the satisfaction of either side. We have agreed to work together towards full implementation of projects and save on resources.”

Matiang’i who chaired the meeting also said similar consultations will be conducted every month to ensure projects that have been delayed are completed.

The CS did not disclose the amount of money that had been channelled towards the stalled projects. He, however, said a report on what was discussed yesterday will be released during the subsequent sitting.

Among key issues to be addressed in the monthly meetings include efforts to ensure full realisation of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda.

Council of Governors chairman, who is also the Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, said: "We have agreed that we need to engage each other more regularly to realise meaningful development.”

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and his Nyandarua counterpart Francis Kimemia welcomed the decision to have regular meetings, between governors and CSs, saying this will promote development in the country.

Mutua said the meetings will address duplication of projects by both levels of government. “There are cases of non-existent projects. Some only exist on paper."