State department for Vocational and Technical Training Principal Secretary Dr. Kevit Desai has given a contractor a five month ultimatum to complete work on the Laikipia West Technical and Vocational Education Training in Laikipia County.
The PS decried that the Sh55.5 million project that started in 2016 should have been completed two years ago but only 40 percent of work is done.
Desai warned that the government would not allow any further delay by the contractor noting that construction work must be finished by December this year, failure to which tough actions will be taken against the contractor.
“We are really disappointed as the state department for Vocation and Technical training that this project is delayed by almost two years, this is simply not acceptable as we need the institution fully functional and working.
The government can’t accept delay for such project because it is meant to promote skills among residents particularly the youth in line with the Big Four Agenda,” said the PS when he visited the project site in Kabage village in Laikipia west Sub County.
The PS noted once complete the institute would go a long way in aiding agricultural value addition for the surrounding community as the institute will be a centre for excellence for agricultural value addition.
“The funding for the equipment has already been allocated and we are expecting them in the country in the next couple of months,” added Desai.
The ultimatum by the PS was received with delight by locals who said their youth who wanted to pursue technical education were missing out due to the delay of the project.
“Our children are travelling to join other TVETs like Muarack in Laikipia North or Marina in Laikipia East constituencies,” said Marmanet ward MCA Simon Kanyutu.
The MCA termed the delay to complete the project as a disgrace to Laikipia West constituency and an embarrassment to elected leaders.
Joseph Mwangi, who is the representative of local community in the project committee said they expected presence of the project to spur growth of other economic activities in the hitherto sleepy and wind-swept area.
The PS lamented that the project was now expected to cost more due to cost escalation, because of the delay noting that it was a challenge on how to get more money to complete the work.
By Jesse Mwitwa
