Elgeyo Marakwet County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) has given the contractor working on the Sh1.3 billion Kibigos Chebororwa road in Marakwet two weeks to submit a revised programme of works.
This, according to the CDICC under the leadership of the County Commissioner Dr. Ahmed Omar will show how the contractor China Henan International Cooperation Group Co. Ltd (CHICO) will accelerate the works to cover for the lost time.
The committee which was on an inspection of the road expressed concern that the 28km road whose construction commenced in September 2020 was expected to be completed in August 2022 and with almost 50% of the time gone, only 18% of the works have been done.
“We are therefore calling on you to increase equipment and personnel to recover the time lost and ensure that the road is completed on time,” the chairman said.
The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Director Timothy Kilimo called on the contractor to ensure that the first milestone which is equivalent to 10% of the road or 2.8 km is complete by December.
The Assistant Resident Engineer Joseph Muange said part of the reasons for the delay was the approval of the removal of trees on the road reserve by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and relocation of power lines by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).
However, through the intervention of the CDICC, KFS has given their approval while Kenya Power had forwarded the quotation for the removal of the power lines thus paving way for the continuation of the works.
In another development, the contractor working on the Sh485 million 34km Kapsowar-Chesoi-Tirap road is requesting for the approval of the extension works on the road.
The Assistant Road Engineer Linda Kisawa told the CDICC that most of the bills were underestimated and had requested for a project cost appraisal which was waiting approval.
Eng. Kisawa said they had been forced to do another contract for road protection works in areas prone to landslides saying without construction of gabions the road will be cut off if a landslide occurs.
“We are also experiencing challenges in water drainage as residents have encroached on the road reserve and none of them wants the water to be pass through their farms,” she said.
The CDICC promised to intervene and ensure that the matter is resolved to avoid delays in the completion of the road which is already behind schedule.
By Alice Wanjiru
