Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency, Eliud Owalo, has issued a stern warning to contractors stalling public projects, threatening blacklisting for those who overcommit and fail to deliver.
Speaking during a week-long government project inspection and verification drive across Kisii and Nyamira counties, Owalo expressed concern over a growing trend of contractors bidding for multiple government projects without sufficient technical or financial capacity.
“We are witnessing a worrying trend where some contractors are biting off more than they can chew. They aggressively pursue numerous tenders, quote unrealistically low prices to win bids, and ultimately struggle to deliver,” Owalo said. “We will not allow public resources to be tied up in non-performing contracts. Any contractor who consistently underdelivers due to overstretching their capacity will be recommended for blacklisting.”
The inspection, conducted by a multi-agency team comprising the Government Delivery Unit, senior engineers, and county and security officials, assessed key infrastructure, health, housing, education, and industrial projects.
In Kisii County, the team visited projects such as:
- Kisii Bypass Phase II, currently at 32% completion, expected to boost trade between Kisii and Nyamira.
- Nyanchwa and Nyaribari Masaba Affordable Housing Projects, at 21% and 13% completion respectively.
- Bomachoge Chache Roads (75km) at 77.5% completion and Riosiri-Ikoba & Gotichaki Loop Roads (15km) at 65%.
- Kisii University’s new lecture theatre, nearing completion at 94%, alongside government-funded ICT and tuition blocks.
- Kisii Cancer Centre, lagging at 6% completion, with delays linked to contractor performance.
In Nyamira, officials toured:
- The fully completed 12.3km Kebirigo–Gesima–Mosobeti–Metamaywa Road and Nyansiongo Modern Market, at 98% completion.
- Borabu Roads upgrade (60.1km), now at 16.9%, and Gekano–Nyangori–Rigoma–Moturmesi–Birongo Road (33.3km) at 30% completion.
- Keroka Level IV Hospital, with a new inpatient and emergency wing at 98%.
- Nyamira Aggregation and Industrial Park in Sironga, a Ksh.750 million agro-industrial project, now 30% complete.
The team also inspected school infrastructure upgrades in 68 institutions across Nyamira, valued at Ksh.1.4 billion, and emphasized transparency amid discrepancies between contractors’ claims and actual progress.
“This government is committed to delivering quality services and value for money. We will not hesitate to act where inefficiency is compromising public good,” Owalo affirmed.
The extensive oversight initiative marks a renewed push to accelerate project delivery, enhance accountability, and ensure alignment between official records and on-ground realities.
Written By Rodney Mbua
