MPs to question Kenha over delayed road projects

An areal view of the Thika Superhighway at Pangani. The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee is expected to question Kenha over use of public funds and delayed completion of roads projects. PHOTO | KENHA

What you need to know:

  • Kenha was on the spot for the slow pace of road projects worth more than Sh50 billion, which has led to the agency paying contractors millions of shillings in interest.

The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee is expected to question the national roads agency over use of public funds and delayed completion of projects.

The committee summoned Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) management to respond to the questions in the Auditor-General Edward Ouko's report.

President Uhuru Kenyatta also recently warned state and public officers against mismanagement of public funds.

INCOMPLETE

Kenha was on the spot for the slow pace of road projects worth more than Sh50 billion, which has led to the agency paying contractors millions of shillings in interest.

The auditor-general's report also notes that Kenha varied the Sh4.5 billion rehabilitation of Kisumu-Kakamega road at 78.8 percent, contrary to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2005.

This means that the project will cost the taxpayer in the region of Sh8 billion, almost double the contract sum assuming that no further variations are incurred.

The report of July 31, 2017, also revealed that although the project awarded to China Overseas Engineering group in 2013 was to be completed in two years, only 56 percent of the work has been done.

“The monthly progress report of June 2016 shows that the percentage of time elapsed was 93 percent and indication of slow progress in the project implementation,” Mr Ouko said.

PROJECTS

Mr Ouko also noted that the Sh5 billion rehabilitation of Bachuma Gate-Maji ya Chumvi section of Mombasa road was going on at a slow rate.

The project awarded to China Dalian International Economic and Technical Corporation Group Company limited started in November 2014. It was to be completed within two years.

However, a monthly progress report of June 2016 shows that the percentage of physical works completed was 20 percent with percentage of time elapsed at 79 percent, which may lead to escalation of costs in interest payments.

The slow pace in completion of projects has also affected the Sh17.2 billion Nairobi Southern Bypass, Sh6.8 billion Northern corridor improvement project and the Sh2.5 billion Kakamega-Webuye road.

The others include Sh2.7 billion construction of Nyahururu, Njoro and Mau Summit turnoffs, Sh3.8 billion Kenya Transport Sector support programme and the Sh0.4 billion construction of Thua Bridge.

QUESTIONS

The PIC chairman, Mr Abdulswamad Shariff, warned that the era of pilferage of public funds is over and that criminal responsibility is individual.

“We cannot allow this to continue happening as we watch. Our primary role as a watchdog committee is to ensure that Kenyans get value for money invested in projects,” Mr Shariff said.

Kenha is also on the spot for paying interest on delayed payments of Sh194.6 million to contractors.

The money was awarded to contractors in the rehabilitation of Laruk-Mapello road, construction of KCC-Sotik/ Ndanai-Gorgor road and construction of Masara, Suna-Kehancha and reinstatement of Awendo-Mariwa road.

The report also noted that although Sh3.4 million was withdrawn from the special account and paid to the Northern Corridor Transport Improvement project account, the audited special account from the Treasury shows that nothing was withdrawn from the account to finance the project activities.