Ksh2.7B projects in limbo as contractors quit over pay delay

School projects worth Sh2.7 billion that were launched by President William Ruto in Nyamira six months ago have stalled after contractors abandoned works over pay.

The projects funded by the Kuwait Government were launched by Ruto during his tour of the Gusii region in July.

A spot check by People Daily revealed that most projects were abandoned at the initial stages.

At Egesieri DOK Primary School in West Mugirango, the contractor had only done the floor slab of three rooms that were meant for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and science laboratories as well as tuition blocks.

Overgrown grass tells a story of work that has remained abandoned for months now.

The picture is the same at Kenyerere Primary School in Kitutu Masaba Constituency as well as Kiabonyoru Secondary in North Mugirango where Ruto commissioned the construction of all the 72 school projects in Nyamira County.

Gusii Parliamentarians Caucus Chairman Joash Nyamoko blamed the Ministry of Education for the stagnation of the projects.

Nyamoko said the ministry erred by failing to institute a project coordination and implementation unit that would be mandated with ensuring the works run smoothly.

“The project implementation committee would do time to time evaluation of the projects. For instance, the cost of the projects is set to go high after Parliament enacted tax on steel and other building materials. How do the contractors deal with the inflation?” he posed

He also cited the move to do pooling of contractors as a mess the Ministry committed.

“The ministry decided to award contractors more than one project without due consideration of efficiency,” Nyamoko said.

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo said the failure of the Government to include area MPs in the planning was deliberate.

“As MPs, we have been in darkness over the implementation of the works. The only thing we know is that the works are being done but we cannot oversight them because the contractors don’t know us,” Gisairo said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ogamba Migos defended the Government, saying the contractors started the work well but project monies took long to be released due to strict conditions attached to donor funds.

The CS promised to have the contractors back on site as soon as possible.