The Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee conducted inspections of two major stalled projects in the North Rift region over the weekend, revealing concerning delays and potential financial irregularities.
Led by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the committee first visited the incomplete Moi Soy Milling Plant on the outskirts of Eldoret City, a project that was started in 2019 has stalled despite a Ksh 285 million investment.
“The Moi Soy Maize Milling Plant was once seen as a potential game-changer for our agricultural sector, but it has sadly stalled for the past five years,” Senator Osotsi remarked.
“In our meeting with Governor Jonathan Bii, the committee emphasized the urgent need to identify funding sources to revitalize this project. For our sake and our farmers, we can’t allow this to go down the drain,” Osotsi added.
The plant, which was initially scheduled for completion in 2019, was designed to boost farmer incomes through value addition and create employment opportunities for local residents. The committee has now called upon the Office of the Auditor General to investigate the expenditure of funds that have yielded minimal results.
In the afternoon, the committee shifted its attention to the Ksh. 850 million Kitale Business Complex in Trans Nzoia County. The project, initiated in June 2019 with a planned completion date of June 2021, was intended to benefit 3,000 small traders but remains incomplete after four years.
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While the Trans Nzoia County Government maintains that the project is 95% complete with 76% of the agreed sum paid, the committee expressed skepticism about these figures. “The percentage of completed work doesn’t match the payment status, suggesting more money has been paid to the contractor than the work warrants,” Senator William Kisang noted.
Trans-Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, who joined the committee as a friend, raised concerns about the allocation criteria for the trading stalls upon completion.
In response, Governor George Natembeya assured the committee of a fair and transparent allocation process.
“I want to make it clear that the allocation process will be fair and transparent,” Governor Natembeya stated, adding a stern warning to traders against paying bribes to officials in exchange for allocation promises.
The inspection tour included Senators Tabitha Mutinda, Hamida Kibwana, and Miraj Abdillahi, highlighting the significance of these projects for regional economic development.
The committee’s findings suggest a pattern of delayed public projects in the most counties, raising questions about project management and fund utilization in county governments.
By Obegi Malack
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