- Former Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala is facing prosecution over the project.
- The contractor is keen to complete the project within the timelines contained in the contract agreement.
Image: HANDOUT
A firm constructing the multi-billion Ronald Ngala Utalii University College in Kilifi County is racing against time to beat the deadline of July this year.
The works at the facility have been accelerated against the backdrop of ongoing investigations and prosecutions over corruption allegations.
On Saturday, a spot check found machinery on site as workers rushed to complete the project that has been under construction for years.
Former Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and his former Principal Secretary, Leah Gwiyo are facing graft charges over the Sh10.4 billion project.
The two and 15 others allegedly inflated the cost from Sh1.95 billion to Sh10.4 billion and paid a consultancy firm Sh4 billion for services allegedly not rendered.
They have since denied the charges before a Malindi Chief Magistrate and released on a cash bail.
The contractor is keen to complete the project within the timelines contained in the contract agreement.
''We have been working round the clock and we intend to sustain the pace so that we can meet the July deadline,'' the officer in-charge at the site said.
Image: HANDOUT
Just a few days ago, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said that the project had stalled.
“Right now, if you go to that site, it’s a very sad story. You have a very big construction but it's stuck. This is one of the sad stories of this country where a big grand project has stalled because of corruption,’ Twalib told a local TV station last week.
A tour at the site by journalists on Saturday found earth-moving machines roaring as the contractor races against the deadline to complete the first phase in July despite the controversy.
The project is based on 59 acres of land in Vipingo, that was donated by Rea Vipingo company for public use.
Phase 1 to be completed in July is Admin Block, two tuition Blocks, kitchen/dining/training block, Library, student centre, multi-purpose hall with 1500 capacity, two hostel blocks, sports complex, Laundry Block and part staff residential houses as well as auxiliary buildings.
All facilities will be fully furnished and kitted while Phase 2 will have two additional hostel blocks, workshops block, changing rooms, sports/graduation pavilion, sick bay/clinic and completion of staff residential houses.
Finally, Phase 3 will have a five-star application hotel to be constructed once the college has begun operations. A project report shows that the project is at 80. 66 percent complete.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, when completed, Ronald Ngala Utalii College is projected to annually graduate about 3,000 on-campus students which will go a long way in positioning Kenya as a leading education tourism destination.
“The RNUC stands among others to be beneficial to the community and the hospitality industry in Creating sustainable employment opportunities,’ said the Tourism Fund that is financing the project states.
It is also expected to increase overall competency development through the promotion of capacity building within the hospitality industry, both locally, regionally and internationally, by continuously improving overall industry standards.