The construction of the Kisii-Isebania road faces a bleak future after the contractor abandoned the project over an outstanding debt of Ksh1.5 billion. According to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the new regime inherited Sh500 billion in pending bills which puts to doubt if the project will be completed anytime soon.
“We have met with Treasury officials in a bid to get resources to offset the bills. We need to clear those bills. The money will be paid to contractors to ensure that we have completed all stalled projects,” Rigathi told KTN news.
Contractors
Third Engineering Bureau of China City Construction Company and China Henan International Cooperation Group were awarded the contract by the national government to construct the 86-kilometre road at a cost of Ksh8.6 billion. The road was commissioned in 2016 and was to be completed in 2019 but the deadline was extended to 2021 due to the 2017 general election.
Resume Work
Work on the road that has now been suspended for two months will only resume after the contractor is paid the remaining balance.
The contractor has said he will only resume work after he has been paid the full amount, according to the project’s engineer James Mageto.
“We were hoping to complete all the major works on this project by December. We have already wasted a lot of time because of the money owed to the contractor. The Chinese contractor has been away and says he will only return after his money has been paid,” Mageto was quoted by the Standard.
“We were hoping to complete all the major works on this project by December. We have already wasted a lot of time because of the money owed to the contractor. The Chinese contractor has been away and says he will only return after his money has been paid…”