Civil Servants involved in the monitoring and evaluation of development projects in Counties have been asked to exercise patriotism, thoroughness and commitment in their work, and reject any shoddy work done by contractors.
The Eastern Regional Coordinator (RC), Isaiah Nakoru said the government was channeling a lot of monies to the grassroots for development and it was only fair that the same was utilized for the intended purpose only.
“We must ensure that those undertaking projects are accountable and that the government gets value for money; we don’t want a situation where the government gives out funding for public good only for it to end up in an individuals’ pocket.
Personal interests should not deny the people their rights” Nakoru said at the Machakos County Commissioners office where he addressed a joint meeting of the members of the Eastern Region Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (RDICC) and the Machakos County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) on Friday.
Later, the two committees conducted a project inspection tour in the County. Among the projects the committee visited is the on-going Sh.706 million Civil Servants Project in Machakos town, the Shs.5.6 billion resettlement project on the Athi River- Kyumbi dual carriage way and the Shs.2.5 billion Mavoko Drinking Water Supply project in Athi River.
Nakoru who is the Chairman of the Regional Committee took issue with civil servants who collude with contractors to pass shoddily-done projects, noting that they were not only stealing from Kenyans, but also denying them of their fundamental rights.
“We have a responsibility to oversee, coordinate and monitor all government developments but unless we are patriotic, thorough and committed we are not going to be effective” he told them.
At the same time, Nakoru urged the county committees to make frequent site visits to the projects and meet the contractors so that they can know the challenges facing them, which often lead to delays in completion of the projects.
The RC stressed the importance of civil servants to publicize the projects the government was undertaking on behalf of the people noting that most members of the public were not aware of the colossal sums the government was spending in ensuring that they are provided with vital projects and services.
“We also have a duty to market the government by making the members of the public aware of what it is doing for them,” he said.
Nakoru commended the Machakos Committee, Chaired by area County Commissioner, Esther Maina for overseeing and evaluating 26 out of the 55 projects being undertaken by national government but urged them to move faster and evaluate all the remaining ones.
He urged area CDICCs to inform the regional committee of any challenges facing projects immediately, so that “they can be escalated upwards for timely interventions”.
The two committees were formed through President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Executive order Number One of 2019 under the framework for the coordination and implementation of National Government Programs and Projects. Facilitated by the Presidential Delivery Unit they report to the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee under the chairmanship of the Interior Cabinet Secretary.
Others who accompanied the RC on the tour, included the Senior Director of Projects at the Presidential Delivery Unit, Francis Ngatia, the Unit’s Regional Director, Cindy Kuria and its Lower Eastern Director, Larry Mulomi.
By Justus Keesi
