Mombasa County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) has warned contractors against undue delay of multi-billion shillings national government funded mega projects.
County Commissioner John Onyango, who chairs the CDICC committee, issued firm instructions to key state agencies supervising the projects to ensure the contractors adhere to set timelines for each of the projects.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of the committee to receive the status report of key projects and site visits, Onyango challenged the CDICC members to ensure the national government gets value of billions of the taxpayers’ money utilised on those projects.
“When projects are not implemented within the set timelines, there is financial implication to it. Ensure you get hold of the contractors and do projects in accordance with the specifications. We believe the instructions we have given out will be implemented so that the projects are completed,” he added.
He said the committee is impressed with the progress of the visited projects and that the government has put in measures to address challenges derailing the swift implementation of the projects.
The committee inspected the progress of the key infrastructure projects in Mombasa after receiving progress reports from Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha) engineers in charge of projects.
The team inspected the Sh4.5 billion Makupa Bridge and Jomvu intersection which is part of the Sh19 billion dual road from Kwa Jomvu to Mariakani.
Flanked by the Deputy Director in the President’s Delivery Unit, who is the Secretary to the CDICC, Loice Shuma, Onyango expressed optimism that the project would be completed within the set deadline.
“We were impressed with the progress of the work. If there is no interference of the wealth condition, then the project will be completed within the timelines. The work is done within the specification,” he added.
Resident Engineer Stephen Gichuhi, who is overseeing the construction of eight lanes Makupa Bridge led the team in the inspection of the project slated to be ready for use in June this year.
Gichuhi updated the team on progress of main activities and the percentage of the remaining work before the project is fully realized.
According to the bridge construction progress report, remaining work include; laying of bridge deck and ancillary works, culvert and drainage, approach road, retaining walls and road furniture.
“As of 19th April 2022, the work progress is at an overall weighted percentage of 67.27, against a reviewed percentage elapsed time of 89.52 per cent. The contractor is therefore required to increase his pace as to meet the project completion date as required,” reads the report.
The bridge is expected to improve traffic along the Mombasa – Nairobi highway, create jobs and business opportunities, improve livelihood of local fishermen due to improved fishing grounds and mangrove tree cover by reducing alluvial and sandy soil deposits and return to the former marine life ecosystem after connecting the two creeks through dredging.
At Kwa Jomvu intersection, the committee heard that the government and proprietor of a gas firm, Synergy Gases Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the relocation of the company to pave the way for completion of the project.
Kenha engineers assured the committee that the contractor will start constructing a ramp that will connect to an already completed side of the intersection.
The Jubilee government has since 2013 invested in excess of Sh3.6 trillion for various projects at the Coast including key infrastructure projects in Mombasa that included the Sh16 billion three-deckers Changamwe interchange.
The Coastal city of Mombasa is also a beneficiary of the Sh1.9 billion Likoni floating bridge and the Sh1 billion modern cruise ship terminal at the Port of Mombasa.
Others are the Sh40 billion new Kipevu Oil Terminal at the Port of Mombasa and phase II of the second container terminal at the Port of Mombasa the Sh5.2 billion dualling of Magongo road, which include expansion of the Port Reitz, Moi International Airport Access roads.
By Galgalo Bocha
