Garissa assembly says road construction cost exaggerated
The Chairman of the Garissa County Assembly Public Accounts Committee Mustafa Ahmed (right) when he led other members to inspect on-going construction of the Kismayo road. The members said the cost of re-carpeting the road was inflated. PHOTO ABDIMALIK HAJIR
What you need to know:
- The committee said the Sh51 million awarded to Medina Investments for the re-carpeting of the 2km road was an exaggeration.
- Also was cited poor workmanship and lack of proper machinery for re-carpeting.
- The work was supposed to be completed by July 16, 2014.
- The committee said the road was supposed to handled by KeNHA.
The Garissa County Assembly Public Accounts and Investments Committee has strongly faulted the on-going construction of the Kismayo road saying its cost has been inflated.
Led by the chairman Mustafa Ahmed, the committee said the Sh51 million awarded to Medina Investments for the re-carpeting of the two kilometre road was an exaggeration.
“Garissa residents are not getting the value for their money,” he said.
He said the contractor had shown inability to do the work.
He also cited poor workmanship and lack of proper machinery for re-carpeting.
The workers used to do the work, he added, did not seem professional as most of them were casual labourers.
TIME ELAPSED
Addressing journalists while inspecting the road, the MCAs said that the contractor was supposed to complete the construction within two months from May 16 to July 16, 2014 but the period had elapsed without the work being completed.
“The contractor asked for more time to finish the work but there has not been official communication on the extension,” Mr Ahmed said.
The re-carpeting of the road in the town’s CBD has inconvenienced drivers and residents prompting the intervention of some of the county officials who last week urged the public to be patient.
The Public Accounts and Investments Committee questioned the county government’s involvement in the road saying it was supposed to be handled by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
PUBLIC OUTCRY
The committee said they were forced to inspect the project after a public outcry on the same.
The committee members said they had already written a letter summoning the County Executive Committee member for Lands, Roads and Public Works chairman Ahmed Adhan to appear before them.
However when the Nation contacted Mr Adhan he refuted claims that he has been summoned because of the road in question.
He said the MCAs should officially communicate with the county administration and not through the media adding that what MCAs claimed was baseless and no true.
“What the MCAs are claiming is not true, they should first write to us and not through the media,” he said.
