Parliamentary watchdog puts contractors on notice over delayed projects

 

 

Legislators have put contractors of mega road projects in Kilifi County on the spot over the pace and quality of work.

Transport, Public Works and Housing Committee said work on the 48-kilometre Sabaki Bridge- Marikebuni-Marafa-Sosoni road was behind schedule by almost six months.

Committee vice chair Gathoni wa Muchomba said the contractor had done only 27 per cent of the project. The committee was inspecting roads in Kilifi.

The members inspected the Sh1.5 billion Sabaki Bridge-Marikebuni-Marafa-Sosoni road, the Sh2.6 billion Baricho Bridge and the Sh4.5 billion Malindi Sala-Gate road.

They gave the contractors notice to complete the projects.

The committee was, however, satisfied with the works at the Baricho bridge and was fascinated by the technology used on the bridge intended to connect Malindi and Magarini sub-counties.

Wamuchomba was accompanied by MPs Ali Wario (Garsen), Dominic Koskey (Sotik) and Ahmen Bashane Gaal (Tarba). Also on the tour were officials from Kenya Urban Roads Authority, the Kenya National Highways Authority and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority together with local administrators.

 

Work at bridge

The construction work at the Baricho bridge is 80 per cent complete.

“We are happy with the work and I believe this being a tourism area, the project will be useful to industry players and farmers in this area. We are looking forward to seeing more young engineers join, learn and train from this project so that local young engineers can take over such projects,” she said.

She, however, took issue with the contractor handling the Sabaki-Marikebuni-Marafa-Sosoni road after residents protested the quality of work.

“The quality of work on the road is not good and it is not even 30 per cent done,” she said.

It emerged the 48-kilometre road, which will be upgraded to bitumen standards, is behind schedule as it was set to be completed on July 6.

Records show that the project, which started on July 14, 2017, was to take 36 months to complete.

Representatives of the contractor had a hard time explaining to the committee why the project had delayed.

Residents of Marafa said the road posed danger as it had so many corners and had no bumps. [Nehemiah Okwembah]