Senator, MCAs declare war on county officers over stalled projects

The stalled Kapkatet market in Bureti constituency.

Outrage over gross misappropriation of County funds and stalled projects characterised day one of the stock-taking of the projects. 

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Members of County Assembly (MCAs) led by the Speaker Dominic Rono during a tour of the projects, declared war on culpable County Executive Committee (CEC) members.

Also in the radar are Chief Officers (COs) and contractors.

“We are no longer going to tolerate the blatant siphoning of County funds. It has now called for impeachment especially of County Executive Committee members. They must not only be sent home but prosecuted,” said Cheruiyot. 

Rono, said it was unacceptable for the county to witness the long string of stalled projects extending to nearly all the departments in the county. 

“The County Assembly approved colossal amounts of money for the all the development projects in the county. Today, we are not only disappointed but angry that the money was misappropriated leading to the stalling of the projects,” he said. 

The Speaker of County Assembly disclosed that after completion of the physical audit of the projects, the Assembly respective committee members will retire to write their reports. 

“The Assembly’s role is to play oversight over the executive. On February 12, the Assembly will begin summoning the County Executive Committee to account for the projects,” he said. 

Hezron Kipngeno Ngetich, the leader of the majority said they were appalled by the stalled Kapkatet market, Information Communication Technology (ICT), ECDE center, casualty unit at Kaplaketet sub county hospital among others. 

Kapaoit ward representative Paul Chirchir had no kind words for Governor Paul Chepkwony’s administration. 

“The County government has not completed even a single successful project. The county executive is just a master of lies,” he said. 

The Senator and the MCAs team also visited the stalled Roret pineapple factory. 

The Auditor General Edward Ouko in his report for the 2016-2017 financial year indicted the county executive over the stalled project.

He observed that a waste water construction works at Roret pineapple processing plant was awarded to a construction company at the cost of Sh7, 140,522.

An L.S.O No 1016185 for the works was raised on September 6th, 2014 and to date Sh2, 356,372 had been paid to the contractor being 33 per cent of the works certified as complete.

“However, audit inspection carried out on the project revealed that works was not complete and the contractor was not on site. The contract has run for three years and has stalled and is unlikely to be completed soon,” said Mr. Ouko.

The Senator and MCAs team also visited the stalled Chebulu conservancy in Soin/Sigowet constituency. 

“The total sum of the projects stocktaking is that Kericho residents are yet to enjoy the fruits of devolution. If county officers are impeached, I will approve it at the senate,” said Cheruiyot.