Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has directed an audit of the stalled Sh178 million Sichirai market.
Speaking when he made an impromptu site visit to the market on Wednesday, he said the project audit report should be ready in two weeks.
“I am not very happy with the progress despite the fact that the contractor has been paid even for works that have not been done,” Barasa said.
“What has been paid is almost 90 per cent but on the ground, we have less than 80 per cent work done."
Present were Shieywe MCA Moses Musundi, county assembly Trade Committee chair Robert Makhanu and Maryanne Mwaura, who represented the site contractor.
Barasa said the report should detail the estimated time of completion, valuation of balance of works and technical capacity of the workforce on the ground.
Other details include the value of pending works and terms of reference versus the value of work done.
The market is funded by World Bank through the Kenya Urban Support Programme and was prioritised in the Kakamega Annual Development Plan for the 2019-2020 financial year.
The market, located in Shieywe ward, Lurambi subcounty, was meant to be completed in 2022 but has since delayed for a year.
Barasa said the work done so far does not match the Sh159 million paid to the contractor.
He said he also wants to get a report from the county's technical team with regard to the balance of works and the value of the balance of works.
"This will help us make some decisions going forward,” he said.
The visibly angry county chief gave the contractor two months to complete the market.
The ultra-modern market was to serve the increasing youth population in the area, and improve conditions for traders.
Barasa asked the county technical committee to carry out a quick analysis of the project report on what needs to be done for the project to be completed next two months
“From what the contractor has committed, it’s unrealistic for the project to be completed within one month, it’s technically impossible,” Barasa said.
Makhanu said his committee will play also scrutinise the project, adding the committee will visit the site in the coming week and make its own report.
“We want taxpayers to receive value for their money and being a World Bank project, we don’t want to lose that support,” Makhanu said.
"We will find out why this market is not complete within its stipulated time."
