The Regional Development Implementation and Co-ordination Committee, led by the Government Delivery Unit, has embarked on a tour of the project sites to assess projects that had previously stalled in Siaya County.
The motive is to ensure that the contractors are back on site in an effort to ascertain that works continue towards completion.
The contractors have been called upon to resume work on the projects that had previously delayed completion or stalled at various stages due to financial constraints after the government availed funds and payments were made to the various contractors for the completion of projects by the national government.
The committee, led by Director for Delivery in the Government Delivery Unit Silvance Osele, visited various projects in the Bondo Sub-county round to verify actual works on the ground while ascertaining progress levels and addressing the existing challenges.
“Works were scaled down because of financial challenges, and there was a promise that funds were being mopped up to accelerate the works to completion. We are at a stage where funds have streamed in and quite a number of contractors have been paid, and therefore this committee is going round to verify that they are actually back on site,” Osele said.
The exercise was also done to assist the committee in preparations for the next budgeting cycle to know how to prioritise and ensure the projects are implemented smoothly by addressing the emerging challenges.
Amongst the projects visited included Dhogoye Causeway in Usenge, valued at Sh1.9 billion, intended to reduce flooding in the area, boost blue economy activities, and also open up movement for residents.
Bondo–Liunda Road was another project visited; the road was cited as being at 80 per cent completion, with construction of the bridge expected to be complete by 30th December this year and 2.7 kilometres of the road expected to be completed by March 2025.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) also had several projects, including an administration block, a library complex, and a blue economy research hub that stands at 90 per cent completion and is expected to be operational by the end of February 2025, with the only remaining installations being fresh water and electricity.
“At the same institution we have an administration block being done, a library, and a tuition block; all these are being accelerated within the broader plan of the national government to ensure the flow of funding so that these projects are completed in time,” said Osele.
While speaking during the visit by the Government Delivery Unit officials, JOOUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Emily Akuno said that the completion of the library complex will be a huge boost not only to the appearance of the institution but will also open up the academic space to allow increasing the numbers of students and lessen the pressure on the already tight space they are operating from.
Akuno also lauded the government’s endeavour to see the operationalisation of the Blue Economy Research Hub at Miyanndhe, adding that the institution’s research partners have already availed equipment to the tune of Sh50 million and the facility has several ‘ready to go’ laboratory spaces that go even beyond the blue economy, as they intend to delve into health research as well.
The VC said that once operational, these laboratories will be a game changer in health and specialised laboratory services in the county, a move that could prove immensely beneficial to the residents.
By Calvin Otieno
