The construction of the Chuka modern stadium is back on course after the County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) intervened to cool the casuals who were demonstrating against delayed payment.
Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner (CC) Ms. Beverly Opwora said the government is committed to the completion of the modern stadium and the CDICC has intervened to ensure the workers are paid and the construction continues.
“The responsibility of the CDICC is to find out the challenges facing ongoing national government projects and seek timely interventions to ensure they are completed within the stipulated time,” said the CC.
Ms. Opwora who was addressing reporters at the Chuka Stadium shortly after the CDICC visit Thursday, said there is progress after the previous meeting with ground irrigation, electrical installations in the ablution block and the pavilion besides fittings on the roof and very soon, the gate would also be fitted.
“Among the challenges that came up during the visit is delays in payment of workers but the contractor has explained the reasons and undertaken to pay them by Monday which the committee will follow up and ensure it is done,” said the CC.
She hailed the workers for their patience and their avoidance to take the law into their hands and assured them that they would be paid as the constructor had undertaken.
Ms. Opwora disclosed that the committee was concerned with the slow pace in the construction of the stadium but was encouraged in that the contractor was on the ground with all the technocrats including engineers in the civil works, mechanical works and even electrical works and looks forward to its completion by the extended deadline on 30th September 2020.
About thirty casual workers were holding demonstrations outside the stadium demanding pay from the contractor, Toddy Civil Engineering and Construction Company.
The furious workers who claimed to have been sacked three weeks before said that the company constructing the sports facility owed them more than Sh120, 000 in total.
Efforts by the contractor’s site manager Boniface Shiveka to assure the workers that their dues would be paid was not going well with them until the CDICC intervened.
By David Mutwiri
