- Ronoh said the government will blacklist incompetent water contractors who delay the completion of projects being funded by taxpayers’ money.
- He said the national government was currently implementing several water projects across the country to the tune of Sh661 billion.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
Water and Sanitation PS Kipronoh Ronoh has told water contractors to complete projects on time.
Ronoh said the government will blacklist incompetent water contractors who delay the completion of projects being funded by taxpayers’ money.
He said the national government was currently implementing several water projects across the country to the tune of Sh661 billion.
“The water projects are at different stages. I know there are projects that have stalled, some are near completion, while some are far away from completion,” Ronoh said.
Ronoh spoke during a joint presser with Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti at the latter’s office in Machakos County on Monday, January 16.
Machakos woman representative Joyce Kamene, Senator Agnes Kavindu, Yatta MP Robert Basil and Machakos Speaker Ann Kiusya also hosted the PS. Machakos deputy county commissioner David Rotich represented the commissioner in the meeting.
The PS earlier made a courtesy call to the county commissioner’s office before he joined Ndeti at a meeting where they both signed an MOU on the utilization and management of Masinga Dam water (NRW).
They later toured Machakos Water and Sewerage project, the Masinga – Kitui water supply project and the proposed Yatta Dam project site at Ngoliba.
“We are giving directives to all the contractors who are implementing water projects to make sure that they speed up implementation of those projects,” Ronoh said.
He said the contractors should make sure the projects are successfully completed so that Kenyans get water since the government has invested billions of money in the same.
“You find that either the contractor has abandoned the project, or has gone to court with funny stories. Or, the contractor wants to vary the costs, while some contractors also once they are paid a lot of money, they stop the projects,” the PS said.
“Those contractors need to know that this is a different administration and they are on notice. As we go across the country as a Ministry, we will be inspecting and checking on those particular projects,” Ronoh said.
Ronoh said contractors found to have delayed projects should explain to the government.
“If we get a contractor who is also unnecessarily escalating the prices or the work is done poorly and he keeps on asking about variation, such contractors need to be blacklisted because this country can’t continue paying for water projects which aren’t complete and will never be completed, and yet have used tax payers’ money,” he said.
He said the ministry will scrutinize all water projects line by line to ensure there is value for money in each and every item put in tenders for dams, water pans, boreholes and all other related waterworks going forward.
"After holding talks on pertinent issues with the Water and Sanitation PS, Dr Kiprono Ronoh, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the utilization and management of Masinga Dam water," Ndeti said.
Ndeti said under the new arrangement, Machakos County through the Yatta Water company will exclusively manage and distribute 40 per cent of the resource to Machakos residents as opposed to the previous plan where Kitui Water and Sanitation Company enjoyed the monopoly.
Ndeti led the delegation on a tour of the Maruba dam which the PS pledged the National Government's support in desilting and rehabilitating in a bid to promote the governor's 'Chakula Mezani, Pesa Mfukoni' development philosophy.