By Kwale Press Club
Kwale County Government has said that delay in disbursement of county allocation funds from the national treasury and existence of several court cases have resulted in the stalling of several mega projects.
Speaking to journalists at the county headquarters a section of county executive committee members (CECMs) said that the projects are undertaken in phases.
Kombani market, Kona Musa-Mabokoni road, Shimba Hills Fruit processing plant and the Governor’s residence are among the projects that have stalled for some time now.
Finance and Economic Planning CECM Bakari Sebe explained that most projects require a lot of resources to complete.
“There are projects which are completed in one financial year and others are done in Phases. The ones that are done in phases needs a lot of finances and their aim is to stimulate development in the areas they are being implemented,” he added
Kwale County Finance and Economic Planning CECM Bakari Sebe
He noted that all the projects, either done once or in phases, are always recommended by residents through public participation.
Kwale Teachers Training College, Mwakalanga Dam, Kwale Stadium, the Oncology Centre and facelift of Msambweni Referral Hospital are among the projects which were done in phases and completed
Tourism and Enterprise Development CECM Michael Mutua refuted claims that Ksh 600,000,000 has been spent for the Shimba Hills Fruit Processing Plant.
“So far we have spent only Ksh 206 million for phase one and two which are now completed and handed over to the Government,” he noted
Mutua added that the contractor’s contract was terminated after it was discovered that he was doing a shoddy job.
Kwale County Tourism and Enterprise Development CECM Michael Mutua
On the Kombani wholesale and fresh produce market Mutua said the market had officially been opened for traders to start operating.
He however said that when the contractor moved to court to sue the County Government claiming he was wronged, traders could not continue operating following a court order that restrained the county government from running the facility until the case is heard and determined.
“We received a court order stopping traders from doing business in the market and that is why we were forced to ask all business people out of the market,” he added
On the Governor’s residence issue, the government has clarified that the Governor has been staying in her own residence since she took office.
“We have not paid any rent for our Governor,” he noted
County Attorney Salim Gombeni said the big challenge is when contractors move to the court when their contracts are terminated.
Kwale County Attorney Salim Gombeni
“Since the matters are still in Court, I cannot talk about it but we are following up with the cases,” he noted.
On his part Roads CECM Joto Mwachirumbi said that the construction of Kona Musa -Mabokoni Road has been delayed due to the termination of the contract by the County government after the contractor failed to deliver the work on time.
Kwale County Roads CECM Joto Mwachirumbi
“The reason why Mabokoni road is not complete is because the Contractor felt dissatisfied with our decision to terminate the contract and he took the government to court but we are hoping to resolve the matter soon so that the 6km road is tarmacked ” Joto Said.
The CECMs called upon the residents to participate in the budget making process through public participation forums to familiarize with the projects initiated by the County Government.
