The growing list of stalled or failed state projects paints a gloomy picture of Kenya’s economic outlook. When government conceives projects, sets timelines, secures funds and engages contractors then fails to deliver, the taxpayer should be concerned.
Most key projects outlined in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2013 and 2017 campaign manifestos, are merely existing on paper. There are 1,356 incomplete ones valued at Sh4.9 trillion. Of these, 63 per cent valued at Sh3.1 trillion, should be completed before Uhuru leaves office in 2022. There are 1,230 projects including roads, cancer facilities, dams, police stations, special economic zones and fruit processing factories that need to be finished in two years, according to set timelines.
In 2017, Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto promised to create 6.5 million jobs. They said they would bank on revival of the manufacturing sector to unleash these jobs. They also promised to improve agricultural production by resuscitating 57 large-scale dams. Then there was the infamous promise to build nine stadia.
According to the Jubilee leaders, every Kenyan would access critical healthcare services by 2022. Uhuru’s successes in other areas notwithstanding, it’s now clear he could leave behind white elephant projects. More worrying is the fact that with barely two years to the next General Election, the momentum to complete these grandiose projects appears to have slumped, with attention turning to 2022 politics.
Last month, Uhuru reshuffled his Cabinet hoping the new team would have the magic wand to turn stalled projects into vehicles for prosperity. But still, there’s the funding nightmare. Sh3.1 trillion is required to finish these projects and borrowing isn’t a likely option, Kenya having overstretched its limits on loans.
Failure of this magnitude is unjustifiable and taxpayers deserve answers. Uhuru should fire officials who slept on the job.
Let there be a deliberate attempt to rid the system of cartels which thrive on sabotage. We also urge the government not to launch more new projects. Meanwhile, an audit of all projects should be done to pave the way for fresh planning.
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