Uhuru takes charge of development projects

President Uhuru Kenyatta has in the last few months ventured out of State House to inspect some of his legacy projects, catching contractors and State officers unawares, as he adopts a new mode of working.  

From Kisumu, Nairobi and now Mombasa, the President has kept contractors and civil servants on toes in an attempt to ensure the projects are completed before the end of his second term. 

The President on Monday inspected work on Dongo Kundu bypass projects before heading to Kwale, the site of the Vigurungani water project.

“The time for politics will come. For now, it’s about delivering on my promises,” Mr Kenyatta told a crowd in Changamwe, Mombasa.

He was at Mombasa port on Saturday.

The President’s visit came barely two weeks after that of his deputy William Ruto, who has shied away from State-sponsored projects in recent months.

Floating bridge

Accompanied by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, President Kenyatta toured the Sh1.9 billion Likoni pedestrian floating bridge that is under construction.

The 1.2-kilometre bridge, the first of its kind in east and central Africa, is 51 per cent complete.

Mr Kenyatta told the contractor to ensure the bridge is completed by November as agreed.

He advised Mr Joho to work with government agencies in developing business stalls in the coastal county.

The President then went to Liwatoni complex, a facility the government is upgrading to a full fishing port.

“I am satisfied with the rehabilitation of the landing site, which will help create jobs for young people and boost the local economy,” he told small scale traders in Liwatoni.

New oil terminal

Mr Kenyatta then boarded a Kenya Navy vessel in Liwatoni and headed to the new Sh40 billion Kipevu Oil Terminal, which is 62 per cent complete.

Sources told the Nation that the President insisted on the work that being undertaken by China Communications Construction Company to be completed by July 2021.

He then crossed Kilindini channel and landed at the Kenya Navy Base in Mtongwe where the military is building a slipway and shipyard. He was taken round the shipyard by Navy boss Major-General Jimson Mutai.

No advance schedule is released by the President’s team, leaving State bureaucrats and contractors with little time to do cosmetic makeovers.

President Kenyatta in July directed Cabinet secretaries to leave their Nairobi offices and go to the grassroots to inspect projects.

In a virtual meeting with the ministers, chief administrative secretaries and principal secretaries, Mr Kenyatta said completion rates of projects and programmes would be adopted as a key performance indicator for top government officials.

Enhanced presence

“The President said collective responsibility should be demonstrated by enhanced presence and visibility of government on the ground,” State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena-Mararo said.

President Kenyatta has in the last three months made four impromptu visits to Nairobi Metropolitan Services projects.

He flew to Kisumu last month to oversee the revamping of the port.

Accompanied by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, President Kenyatta went around the city centre inspecting the rehabilitation of roads in June.

The hands-on approach comes barely six months after Mr Kenyatta said he would oversee government projects himself.

“Those representing me in ensuring projects are on the right track started behaving like hyenas. From today, I am not sending anyone to help me. I’ll do it on my own,” President Kenyatta said in Nyandarua in February.

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