Public Works Principal Secretary (PS) Maj. General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa has said the government is keen to complete the multi-million stalled Migori County National Government Headquarters.
Speaking in Migori town Thursday when he led a team of four Principal Secretaries on a mission to assess and determine the status of various National Government sponsored projects in the area, Mr. Kihalangwa said that the current contract would be terminated and a new one tendered.
“The process to re-tender the remaining works on the long-stalled structure is in progress and we look forward to commencing all works on it in the next financial year,” he explained after he led the team on an extensive tour of the facility.
The construction of the giant three-story office block whose original contract sum was revised from Sh609,471, 291 million to Sh701,536,029 million commenced on 31st July,2009 and was expected to be complete on 29th July, 2011.
But due to lack of adequate financial allocation, the construction stopped exposing the county to serious shortage of office space for various state ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Meanwhile, Mr. Kihalangwa who was accompanied by PSs Esther Koimett (Broadcasting and Telecommunication) PSs Esther Koimett, Enosh Momanyi (Physical Planning) and Prof. Fred Segor (Tourism and Wildlife) expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the state-owned projects being implemented within the region.
He praised the ongoing works on the Isebania- Kehancha-Ntimaru-Gwitembe-Angata-Lolgorian road which is being upgraded to bitumen standards at a cost of over Shs2.8 billion.
The 75km stretch of road being implemented by Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) is currently at 92 percent complete.
Mr. Kihalangwa urged government officials charged with the implementation of projects and programmes not to delay the works of their respective assignments, saying the tax payers needed to get the value of their monies and on time.
He directed the Kenya Power Management to make efforts of relocating the 160 electric poles on a stretch of 15km, along the Kehancha-Lolgorian road within Gwitembe village that were hindering the smooth works on the road.
Kenya Power demands Sh14million from KeRRA to enable it relocate the poles lying on the road reserves.
During the day-long tour of the development projects, the four PSs visited the Kakrao Training and Vocational College which is still under construction, Matare primary school and Kadika Girls Secondary school where they learnt that 99.9 percent of learners had reported back to schools following reopening of schools after the covid-19 related nine months’ closure.
They challenged the local leaders to make efforts of supporting technical colleges which they cited as the sure way to create employment opportunities to the many Kenyan youths who are now jobless in the country.
Prof. Segor said Kenya was currently in serious shortage of white collar-jobs to offer to university and high school leavers and pointed out that it was only through pursuing technical skills that the youth will be able to get jobs and be self-employed in their own areas of professions.
Koimett on her part condemned FGM which is practiced by some communities in the area saying the traditional ritual denied the girl-child an opportunity get education besides exposing them to serious health hazards.
The four PSs also drummed support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) saying the draft contained changes that would improve improving governance besides positively changing the lives of Kenyans economically.
They appealed to the local people to continue observing all laid down health protocols on Covid-19 noting that the virus is still alive in the area.
“Migori being a border county, its population must remain extra-careful since you are bordering Tanzania which is currently experiencing a coronavirus flare-up cases,” stressed Mr. Kihalangwa.
Also with the PSs during the tour were, the Director Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Dr. Victoria Ndibo, Richard Tutah (PDU senior Director Nyanza and Western Region), Mr. Duncan Mwariri (PDU Director Migori County and Migori County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich among other senior government officials.
by George Agimba
