- "Six months down the line, we have made progress, we returned a number of contractors based on negations and consultations," he added.
- Murkomen said his docket is navigating through a difficult moment following pending bill of over Sh140 billion.
Image: FILE
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said he inherited commitments of more than Sh900 billion from his predecessor.
During an interview with The Informer, Murkomen said his docket is navigating through a difficult moment following a pending bill of over Sh140 billion.
"It looks like I have been in office for a year because of the responsibilities and demands in relation to the delivery of so many projects in the country," he said.
Murkomen said his office has done its best in working around the payments of pending bills.
"Six months down the line, we have made progress, we returned a number of contractors based on negotiation and consultations," he said.
He also said the contractual works will commence along Mombasa Road soon as it was affected following the construction of Standard Gauge Railway.
"In less than a year we should be able to solve all problems in relation to Mombasa Road."
In November 2022, Murkomen said it won't be easy to execute his mandate after he was sworn in. The Roads CS said a herculean task awaits him in the execution of his mandate.
However, he said he is alive to the fact that it will not be easy to fulfill election pledges made by the Kenya Kwanza leaders that fall under his docket.
“I have already seen that it is not easy. We are inheriting Sh140 billion pending bills that must be paid first before all the pending roads are constructed,” he said during an interview.
He said the government, after paying the pending bills, still has a commitment of Sh700 billion to complete road projects, where contracts have been signed.
“Meanwhile, we are dealing with a situation of huge debt. When we talk about pending bills, we are not even discussing how after paying the money, we will proceed with other projects,” Murkomen said.
According to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, 59 roads are under construction.
The Kenya National Highways Authority has nine major roads that are incomplete, according to data on its website.