The National Youth Service has been contracted to complete six community projects in Elgeyo Marakwet county which stalled for decades after the construction of the Chebara dam.
The community projects are estimated to cost Sh650 million and the NYS is expected to complete works within 90 days. The projects are located in Marakwet West constituency.
President William Ruto issued the directive on the projects when he attended an inter-denomination prayer service at Iten playground on January 14.
The projects include Chebara Boys High School, Chebara Girls High School, Kaptomut Primary School, AIC Chebara, Chebara Youth Polytechnic and a cattle dip.
Area MP Timothy Kipchumba welcomed the NYS team and said the projects would be of great benefit to his constituents.
“I am grateful for the action taken by the president to have the projects completed so that they can be used by my constituents who have suffered for many years during which the projects had been neglected,” Toroitich said.
Toroitich visited the areas as heavy machinery and personnel deployed from the NYS headquarters in Nairobi moved in to begin works on the projects.
Ruto’s intervention followed a petition by the local residents through their MP to ensure completion of the mega projects that were demolished to pave the way for construction of Sh1.5 billion Chebara dam.
The dam project was put up through a loan from the German government to supply water to Eldoret town.
The MP alleged massive corruption by the committees that were tasked with the implementation of the community projects and called for action against the culprits to recover lost money.
“It is unfortunate to note that a lot of money earmarked for the construction of the projects has gone down the drain and the school buildings are unsafe for the learners as I speak now,” said the MP.
He expressed hope that the NYS will complete the projects as scheduled to enable the learners to study in a conducive environment for learning.
The multi-billion shillings Chebara dam project was commissioned by the late President Daniel arap Moi in 1999 and is the main source of water for Eldoret town and its environs in the neighboring Uasin Gishu County.
According to the area MP, the construction of the dam displaced more than 3,000 families, with the majority yet to be compensated after their parcels of land were acquired by the government.
The MP claimed that much of the money for compensation also went missing.
