Delay attributed to contractor's absence after he was asked to finish the Presidential Square on time ahead of Mashujaa Day celebrations
Traders at the refurbished Sh460 million Mama Ngina Waterfront Park have been asked to wait until December 10 to start doing businesses.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the contractor is yet to finish putting up the designed kiosks that will be allocated to the traders.
Traders are set to be allocated 76 stalls according to designs of the park launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on October 20.
“We have names of 63 traders who were initially at Mama Ngina Drive. We have put up 76 stalls, therefore they should not be worried at all,” Balala said.
He said the delay to complete works on time was because the contractor was asked to finish the Presidential Square on time ahead of Mashujaa Day.
The 56th Mashujaa Day celebrations were held at the Mama Ngina Waterfront.
“The contractor had a deadline to beat because of the Mashujaa Day. The focus was on the Presidential Square. However, by December the whole project will be ready,” Balala said on Wednesday.
The Mama Ngina Waterfront Park is an integrated urban destination for culture, festivals, shopping, dining and relaxation according to its design plans.
Notable features of the project which have already been completed are the state-of-the-art amphitheater, the Kilindini Cultural Centre, the Pigeon Towers, the leisure walk-ways, the ablution blocks and the two main gates.
“Currently, the area was fitted with temporary lighting ahead of Mashujaa Day, but we want to ensure we have permanent lighting at the park. We want it to be a 24-hour economy,” Balala said.
The contractor, Suhufi Agencies Limited, employed over 300 local youth to carry out the project commissioned by Uhuru on January 7.
edited by peter obuya