- He said all the pending projects were now under inspection and where contractors are found to have delayed without any reason, the contracts would be terminated.
- He said the sector was being undermined by such contractors who had turned into cartels instead of delivering on their work.
The government has threatened to terminate multi-billion contracts for delayed water projects accusing rogue contractors of fleecing the public.
Water PS Paul Rono said he was irritated by the behaviour of some of the contractors who had been loitering in the corridors of Maji House instead of completing works awarded to them years ago.
“Kenyans have been waiting for too long for the water projects to be completed so that they can access water but some of the contractors have turned the projects into a cash cow. We will not allow that at all,” Rono said.
He said all the pending projects were now under inspection and where contractors are found to have delayed without any reason, the contracts would be terminated.
He spoke on May 26, in Elodret town as he terminated the contract for a key supply project for the town that was to cost more than Sh1.5 billion.
Rono also paid a courtesy call at the office of Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii in Eldoret before touring several water projects.
The PS claimed that the contractor for the Kipkaren water project had taken too long to complete the project hence the decision to terminate the contract.
"We have made a decision to chase away the contractor and I am heading there to ensure he is out," Rono said.
The PS sounded a warning to all other contractors who had unnecessarily delayed water projects that they risk a similar fate.
He said the sector was being undermined by such contractors who had turned into cartels instead of delivering on their work.
"The money being used is either government funds or donor money which has to be accounted for and no rogue contractor will be tolerated," he said.
Rono said the government was on course to deliver on its promise to build 100 major water dams, 1,000 middle-level dams and 3,000 water pans and boreholes to improve access to clean water for Kenyans.
He said they had also launched the water resources police protection unit to ensure no one tampers with the resources.
Rono said all those illegally encroaching on water resources must quit before they are forcefully evicted.
He said illegal water connections would also be dealt with and those found culpable will face the full force of the law.