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The site where the Uasin Gishu county government is constructing booths for shoe shiners is on a road reserve earmarked for the expansion of the highway, the county assembly has revealed.

The Assembly’s Committee on Trade and Industrialisation members has faulted the executive for building the shades without seeking their approval terming the move as illegal and a conduit to embezzle taxpayers’ money.

Led by David Waiganjo who is a UDA nominated MCA, took issue with Anthony Sitienei, the CEC for Lands, Housing Physical Planning and Urban Development for implementing the construction of the booths without following due process.

Waiganjo castigated the CEC for failing to involve the committee on the cost of the project noting that everything was shrouded in mystery, raising concern as to why the project was being rushed.

“We are telling the CEC to stop the ongoing construction of the shades until further notice since the whole issue is shrouded in mystery and has a lot of questions than answers relating to the cost and furthermore the regional government has not been given greenlight by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) to build the shades on the road reserve,” said Waiganjo.

He has warned that taxpayers in Eldoret are to lose money that would run into millions should the county ignore their advice by halting the whole project after it emerged that the state agency was yet to pronounce itself on the same.

“There is a high chance that the booths would be demolished by KeNHA because they are sitting on a road reserve that is meant for the expansion of the highway that links Eldoret-Iten road.

However, the county minister dismissed the allegations saying the proposed construction of the shades for hundreds of shoe shiners was part of the county government’s beautification of Eldoret town ahead of the eighth Devolution Conference that is set to be held in Eldoret in August.