Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has cast doubts on the completion of a Sh2 billion road project in Gilgil following delays in the disbursement of government counterpart funding.
In her report for the year ended June 30, 2022, Gathungu said the cumulative counterpart funding from the government stood at Sh137.5 million representing 34 per cent of the total financing.
Sponsors of the Gilgil Machinery Road Project are the government of Kenya (contributing 33.15 per cent) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (contributing 66.85 per cent of the roadworks costs.)
The government was to contribute $4 million (Sh548 million) while BADEA was to give $15 million (Sh1.5 billion).
The project is being implemented by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority and aims at improving 23 kilometres of Gilgil- Machinery Road (D390) to bitumen standards.
In her report, Gathungu noted that the closing date of the project was set for July 30, 2024.
“..It is doubtful that the counterpart financing balance of 66 per cent will be disbursed to the project activities before the closure date,” she said.
“Failure to finance project activities as planned may affect operations of the project resulting in delayed implementation and the likelihood of pending bills,” she added.
Construction started on May 4, 2019, and is expected to run until July 30, 2024, with a 12-month maintenance period.
The overall objective of the project is to expand and integrate the road network with the capital Nairobi and link administrative towns and villages.
