A consultant company says the Siaya town planning final report has delayed because a government office it was to collaborate with closed for two months because of Coronavirus outbreak.
Horizon Business Solution, was to have the report ready in three months after it was awarded the tender in February 2020.
The company director Patrick Idalia, however said they could not beat the deadline because materials testing was to be done at the Ministry of Public Works laboratory in Siaya town, but the office remained closed till end of April, 2020.
The director told the press in Siaya town that the final report can only be ready early next month, because the work involves consultations, feasibility studies and design drawings of Siaya town and its environs for construction of roads, parking lots, storm water drainages, street lighting and beautification.
He said some draft reports had already been handed to departments of Lands and Public works for their inputs then handed back, as required by the regulations.
The Siaya Municipality Board chairman, Prof. Waw Achola, expressed concern that the reports delay had stalled the implementation of World Bank funded urban upgrading, under Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP). He was speaking at a meeting with stakeholders in Siaya town.
The chairman said the project’s implementation deadlines will be delayed further because the report must be subjected to public participation, then sent to the Cabinet and finally to the area County Assembly.
By Paul Olale
