Lawmakers have given the government a firm directive to fire and blacklist contractors who are delaying a massive water and sanitation programme worth Ksh45.5 billion.
The programme, which is jointly funded by the Kenyan government and the African Development Bank, covers 58 towns across the country and includes 61 different projects. It is expected to create around 15,000 jobs and bring clean water and better sanitation to thousands of Kenyans.
But on Tuesday, June 10, the National Assembly’s Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation met with Water Principal Secretary Julius Korir and made it clear that they have run out of patience.
Committee Chairperson David Bowen Kangogo said Parliament will no longer tolerate continued delays that deny Kenyans essential services, especially after so much public money has been spent.
The MPs raised several problems, including contractors who are not performing, poor governance among some water service providers, court disputes that have stopped work, and rising construction costs that are making it harder to finish projects on time.
So far, the committee heard that only 12 out of the 61 projects have been completed and handed over. Another 26 are finished but still waiting to be commissioned. That means nearly 40 projects are either stuck or moving too slowly.
Twenty-two projects are still under construction, while one project has completely stalled because of a court case.
In response, PS Korir told the MPs that the government has already taken action. Some contractors in Mandera and Meru have been terminated after it became clear they did not have the ability to complete the work. He said new procurement processes have started to find replacement contractors and speed up the remaining projects.
“Kenyans do not deserve stories,” Korir said. “That is why the ministry is incorporating new methods to ensure projects are completed and serve Kenyans within the allocated timelines.”
The MPs also called for better teamwork between the national government and county governments to solve last-mile connectivity issues. They insisted that every single shilling spent on water and sanitation must actually lead to reliable services for ordinary citizens.
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