Contractors doing shoddy jobs to be prosecuted

By Charles Mulila

Roads Minister Franklin Bett has warned that contractors who do shoddy jobs will face the full force of the law as stipulated in the new Constitution.

Mr Bett said it will not be business as usual for rogue contractors, adding that the Government must get full value for money invested in the roads sector.

He said he has put in place measures to ensure that axle load limits are observed and warned transporters to comply."We have punitive measures in place that we intent to employ.

But we want our customers to comply, other than wait to be punished", he said. He was speaking during the handing over of the Sh1.1 billion Kangonde-Kitui road, constructed by Victory Construction Company.

The tarmacking of the 25-kilometre stretch began in May 2005.The minister said the road will open up the strategic Kitui County that is said to harbour minerals such as coal and limestone. Besides, the road, which connects the Garissa-Mwingi road at Kangonde will improve communication in the area and open up the high potential of horticulture in Kitui.

"My ministry will ensure that roads are in top condition to facilitate trade, agriculture and improve the lives of Kenyans in line with the Vision 2030 initiative. The road was officially opened by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who incidentally launched its construction during his tenure at the ministry of roads in 2005.

At the same time, a road contractor in the recently completed Kangonde-Kitui road has undertaken a two year defects liability period. Speaking during the handing over of the road,

Kenya National Highways director general Meshack Kidenda said Victory Construction will fix "any defects" that may occur on the 45km stretch between Kangonde to Syongila in Kitui. Mr Kidenda said the project entailed the construction to Bitumen standards of the 45-kilometre stretch with a cross section of six metres carriage-way. However, he said that there were pending works which he said required additional funding.

These include road marking, installation of road bumps, installation of gabions and scour works. He advised Kitui residents to drive carefully on the new road to curb accidents that have been witnessed in the recent past.