Roba: Insecurity stalled our projects worth Sh1.2billion

Development projects worth Sh1.2 billion in Mandera have stalled due to persistent terror attacks, Governor Ali Roba said yesterday.

Mr Roba (right) told the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) that his administration failed to complete the projects in time because of frequent terror attacks.

“Insecurity due to frequent terror attacks in the area that has caused persistent work stoppage every time a security incidence occurred,” he said.

The county chief told the committee in a session chaired by Senator Mithika Linturi (Meru) that the unavailability of construction materials, especially during the rainy season when the roads are impassible, are some of the other reasons projects have taken longer to complete.

The auditor had reported that there was a delay in the construction of the Mandera roads to bitumen standards, a project that was to end on June 30, 2016, worth Sh1.2 billion.

In his report, the auditor noted that upon the expiry of the June 30, the contractor requested for an extension which was granted, with the new completion date being April, 2018. However, the project was not completed in time and an extension of up to April 2019 was granted.

The county chief was being grilled over audit queries in his administration.