The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has summoned a Chinese contractor for failing to complete a Ksh1.2 billion water project in Siaya County.
While speaking to the media on Thursday, May 5, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Magu Mutindika, revealed that officials from Shanxi Geological Engineering Exploration Institute and M/s Zhongmei Engineering Group Limited would be questioned over delays to complete the Siaya – Bondo, Ugunja – Ukwala water project ahead of its scheduled launch in June.
Mutundika dismissed claims that the contractor had not been paid for services rendered. He stated that the contractor was paid in full further expressing his concerns over his ability to complete the project.
“The contractor claims that there is non-payment which is not true. The issue is lack of capacity on the part of the contractor,” he stated.
The commissioner further explained that the contractor has been ignoring advice from local engineers hence the slow implementation of connectivity to households in the area.
“He has not achieved the target and has only managed 1,200 households and has persistently ignored instructions from the resident engineer,” he stated
However, he assured that the government would look into the matter to ensure that it is launched by President Kenyatta in June before leaving office.
For the last few months, government officials have been working around the clock to ensure that Uhuru's key projects are completed and launched before the August 9 polls.
While speaking in Mombasa on April 7, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i revealed that the government was adopting new strategies to ensure that mega projects are completed on time.
In particular, he stated that the projects facing court cases would be solved out of court to avoid delays involved in the court process.
“We are very optimistic that by end of the day, these matters will have been resolved out of court.
By going to court we end up losing a lot of money and cause the projects to delay. We have explained ourselves and it will be a win-win situation for us and the stakeholders,” he stated.
