Shame of projects worth millions that lie in ruins

A section of Karatina market, which is under construction. The facility has been under construction since 2010 and has consumed over Sh370 million. PHOTO| FILE |NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • In Kwale, Maji Moto springs was identified as a major tourist attraction centre but the project was abandoned despite millions spent to spruce it up. 
  • The Magombani open market in Lunga Sub-County has been abandoned.

  • In Nyeri, six out of the eight markets are not in operation.

  • In Murang’a, a  Sh30 million market constructed opposite Maragua police station is also idle.

  • In Kisii, most markets constructed by the National government are idle.

Scores of projects across the country that cost the taxpayer billions of shillings are lying idle.

Most of the projects, mainly markets in urban areas, were constructed with funds from the Economic Stimulus Programme in the second term of President Mwai Kibaki.

The programme was launched in July 2009 with an initial funding of Sh22 billion.

Its objectives were to spur economic growth and create employment by building markets and other infrastructural facilities. It followed the post-election chaos of 2007 that depressed economic growth.

Other projects were funded under the Ministry of Agriculture’s Smallholder Horticulture Marketing Programme (Shomap) and Constituency Development Funds.

But today, most of these projects  have been boycotted for a number of reasons.

Where markets are unoccupied, traders say they are in bad locations and there are also disagreements on how much counties should charge them to do business there; because of bad workmanship, the roofs of the markets are also leaking or their walls have cracked scaring the traders. At the Coast, many such projects have stalled.

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

They include drainage systems, markets, tourists’ attraction centres, football pitches as well as roads. 

Residents claimed some of the buildings were hurriedly built and their walls collapsed.

The Changamwe market in Mombasa, the Maji Moto Springs in Lunga sub-county whose perimeter wall collapsed and Diani drainage system are .

 Changamwe market was initiated by the then area MP Ramadhan Kajembe. It is now home to thousands of crows. 

 The Mombasa county government has allocated Sh20 million in the 2018/19 budget to rehabilitate Magongo and the Changamwe markets. 

In Kwale, Maji Moto springs was identified as a major tourist attraction centre but the project was abandoned despite millions spent to spruce it up. 

The Magombani open market in Lunga Sub-County has been abandoned.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 Other projects that were completed but are not in use include Nyumba Sita market stall in Msambweni Sub-County.

 Residents claimed public participation in the project was poor because they had opposed construction in an isolated place.

The Kwale town bus park is also complete but is not operational. When contacted, County Secretary Martin Mwaro declined to comment.

In Lamu, some residents said they were not aware of any project constructed by the ESP funds.

Many of those interviewed by the Nation blamed local leaders for failing to ensure the money was used for the intended purpose.

Mr Paul Mwiruri of Hindi in Lamu West said no leader had come out to explain the issue.

“We only heard the government had set aside money to improve agriculture and jua kali sector among others. We haven’t so far seen any tangible projects in Lamu which were established as a result of the money. Our leaders can explain better,” said Mr Mwiruri.

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE

Mrs Halima Bwanamkuu of Witu said she was aware Witu was among the places intended to benefit from the Economic Stimulus Package.

She said she was not aware of any single project in the area constructed using the money.

Governor Fahim Twaha said Lamu was among the areas that received the Economic Stimulus Package but was quick to say nothing much was done by the then municipality.

 “I remember we proposed various projects to be undertaken in Witu, Hindi and Mpeketoni. I am yet to make follow up and know exactly about the progress of the projects. It’s almost ten years now and I am not informed about the projects’ current status,” said Mr Twaha.

In Nyeri, six out of the eight markets are not in operation.

The markets are Kamakwa, Mweiga, Karatina, Kiandu, Kiaruhiu and Othaya. They were all completed in 2014 except Karatina whose construction is still ongoing. Othaya and Kamakwa markets, both of which cost Sh60 million,  are yet to be operational. Traders still operate in open streets.

NEW MARKET

In Othaya, traders have refused to occupy the new market.

Ms Mary Nyawira, a businesswoman in the town, said the people were not consulted when the project was implemented.

The market, she said,  is in a wrong location.

“We felt relocating to that place will lead to declined sales. It would have been constructed within the town or near a place with high population and movement of people,” said Ms Nyawira.

She advised the county government to relocate the bus terminus from the town to a field adjacent to the market.

The market is near the yet to be opened Sh1 billion-Othaya District Hospital, which has also been under construction for at least eight years now.

A women’s leader and trader, Ms Josephine Gathogo, said the market was a good idea and if well managed would lead to economic growth.

“The current market is congested and many traders are operating on the roadside. If the county government makes good plans and organises operations, there will be no complaints,” said Ms Gathogo.

DEMOLISH TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

In Kamakwa market, Richard Kagera, a trader said they were forced to demolish their temporary structures to create space for construction of the modern market in 2010 but up to now the market has not been opened.

In Meru, weeds and insects are reclaiming seven horticulture markets.

Disagreement over their status before handing over to the county government as well as disputes on management have turned the facilities that cost close to Sh250 million into white elephants.

Out of the eight facilities, only one is being used for sale and storage of bananas.

At Thimangiri in North Imenti, the Sh27 million centre equipped with a ripening chamber and a cold room was used for a short while before a dispute over management scuttled operations.

Thuura Vision Group, which was managing the facility, accuses the county government of demanding too much tax from the centre.

“The county officials wanted to take control of the market. They were charging Sh20 per banana bunch. Farmers were not making any money from selling at the facility. Some of us have since uprooted the bananas while others sell to brokers,” Mr George Mutua, the group’s chairman said.

At Kithaku in Imenti Central, potato farmers who were to reap from the modern market are nowhere to be seen.

POOR ROADS

The floor is covered in dust while cobwebs fight for space in 158 lockers, some of which are still locked after they were allocated to farmers in 2015.

Despite gobbling up Sh36 million, only a handful of farmers operate from the spacious Kithaku Horticulture market.

Mr Silas Mutai, the chairman of Kithaku smallholder farmers group that initiated the project, blames poor roads for the collapse of the market.

In Tharaka Nithi,  a Sh10 million fresh produce market at Kajiunduthi in Maara constituency has been idle for the last eight years.

The market has a capacity to accommodate 30 fresh produce traders, but villagers say it is only used as a meeting place by women’s groups.

 Maara Sub County Agricultural officer Mwirigi Kirera told the Nation the market has never been used  because it was built at a place without an existing centre.

 He said he was the area agricultural officer during construction but he was never consulted.

“I have never known who constructed or funded this project and even after its completion, it was never handed over to the local agricultural officers,” said Mr Kirera.

ABANDON MARKET

Ms Lucy Kaari, a resident, said the centre could be useful if it was constructed at nearby Marima market centre where there are people to buy produce.

In Murang’a, a  Sh30 million market constructed opposite Maragua police station is also idle.

According to Mr Kamande Kariuki, a trader, they boycotted the market because it was too far from Maragua town.

“It is unfortunate the national government and the then MP Elias Mbau constructed the market away from our clients. We had no choice but to abandon the market and continue operating here at Maragua town,”  Mr Kariuki said.

In Kisii, most markets constructed by the National government are idle. Six markets  are yet to be opened and traders said they had waited in vain to be allocated spaces.

Kisii County Secretary Patrick Lumumba, however, said the markets may be opened in the coming two weeks.

AWAITING FORMAL NOD

“Many of the markets were not finished and this has caused delay in operationalising them,” Mr Lumumba told the Nation.

At Kiamokama, in Masaba South, residents said they were told the markets could be opened ‘soon’.

 “Six years later, we are still waiting to be allocated spaces. We have been patiently selling outside with hope that we will soon get spaces. With these heavy rains things are not any better for us, “said Gesare Onkubo, a vegetable dealer.

The situation is similar at Riombongi, and Masimba where traders said they are still awaiting a formal nod to access the markets.

 Reports by Fadhili Fredrick, Winnie Atieno, Kalume Kazungu, Magati Obebo, Joseph Wangui, Alex Njeru, David Muchui and Ndung’u Gachane