County administrator says construction will proceed and that "anyone whoever attempts to interfere with works will be dealt with accordingly."
Image: COURTESY
A Chinese company constructing a Lapset road in Kitui has threatened to stop the project if the county government insists on demanding tax for use of local materials.
The Kitui government is demanding Sh132 million from the contractor for using ballast and sand from the locality in the construction of Kibwezi-Kitui-Migwani road.
The contractor has threatened to stop works next month is the demand persists. It wants the county to negotiate with the Kenya National Highways Authority, saying the levy was not part of the contract.
The county government has stopped the contractor from accessing local materials especially ballast and sand for the last one month unless the levy is paid.
Members of the Kitui County Development Implementation Committee on Wednesday said they were concerned even as they promised to find an amicable solution.
Kitui county commissioner John Ondego regretted that a meeting between the committee and Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu failed to resolve the matter.
“Even after learning that the contractor is exempted from payment of the county government charges on ballast and sand obtained locally, the county government changed the version saying that the invoice of Sh132 million issued to the company is for sale of sand and ballast obtained below six feet underground,” Ondego said.
The company has been buying the ballast from locals while scooping sand from local rivers.
The county government says the invoice includes charges accruing for the total ballast and sand obtained below six feet under the ground and used by the contractor in his works from the border with Makueni county at Athi River.
The committee could not tell who between the national and county governments owns the ballast below six feet and sand in the rivers.
Ondego who chairs the committee said it was regretful that the county has issued a similar invoice to Thwake Dam contractor.
"When I asked why Kitui county was charging for the ballast below six feet and the sand obtained from rivers unlike Makueni, Ngilu said Makueni county was sleeping on the job," Ondego said.
The development committee said the county government wanted to turn the matter into a political disagreement to incite residents against the project.
Kenha officials who also are members of the committee and were in attendance said they will not pay more for the contract.
But Ondego expressed optimism the matter will be resolved for the project to continue. He said consultations were at high levels.
“The road construction work will continue and the contractor will get the local materials as before. Whoever attempts to interfere with the road construction works will be dealt with accordingly,” Ondego said.
He criticised the county government for impounding two trucks belonging to the contractor on claims the lorries were damaging roads.
He said the damages caused on local access roads were factored in the contact where the contractor will re-carpet 11km in return.
edited by peter obuya