Senators led by Johnes Mwaruma of Taita Taveta county (L) speaking at the 64 Stadium in Eldoret City on May 16, 2025/MATHEWS NDANYI
A Senate oversight team is in Uasin Gishu County to inspect stalled public projects worth more than Sh5 billion, raising serious questions about accountability and value for taxpayers' money.
The County Public Accounts Committee, led by Vice Chairperson Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta Senator), is on a two-day tour that will culminate in a grilling session with Governor Jonathan Bii and his county officers on Saturday, May 17.
The team began its inspection at the 64 Stadium in Eldoret, a project initially budgeted at Sh1.1 billion.
Despite the contractor already receiving Sh750 million, the stadium remains incomplete.
County officials claimed the project is more than 70 percent done—an assertion that sparked outrage among the senators.
“I don’t see any value for money here,” said Senator Enock Wambua (Kitui), visibly frustrated.
“This is embarrassing. If this is happening in the home county of the president, what’s going on elsewhere?”
Wambua described the workmanship as “shoddy” and questioned how the project could be completed with the limited funds remaining.
He also criticised the national government for repeatedly failing to deliver on its promise to build stadiums across the country.
Senators present during the inspection included Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira), Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi), and Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo).
Cherargei expressed disappointment that such a major sports infrastructure project could stall in a county globally known for its athletic talent.
“This should be a flagship facility. It’s shameful that it has come to this,” he said.
According to Mwaruma, the contractor had already been paid an additional Sh50 million and must return to the site to complete the stadium, which was supposed to be operational last year.
The project initially received financing from the World Bank, but the lender pulled out, forcing the county government to take over.
County officials, led by Roads Executive Joseph Lagat, struggled to justify the delays during the senators’ visit.
“We are inspecting projects valued at over Sh5 billion. This is part of our oversight duty to ensure citizens get value for the money allocated to development under devolution,” said Cherargei.
The committee is also set to visit other stalled developments, including the Ziwa Level 5 Hospital, Turbo Hospital, Burnt Forest Level 5 Hospital, Chagaiya High Altitude Training Centre, and the official residences for the governor and deputy governor in Eldoret.
All the projects have either slowed significantly or come to a complete halt.
