Kajiado puts building firms on notice

Kajiado governor David Nkedianye (in suit) during the launch of the Karen Hospital Training College in Ngong Town. He has warned contractors. FILE 

By Ponciano Odongo

The Kajiado government has warned contractors to take their work seriously for the benefit of the public. Shoddy work will not be tolerated, the governor, Dr David Nkedianye, said.

While releasing a cheque of Sh34 million to 29 contractors, the governor said it behoves firms that take up public contracts to always think about the gains for the taxpayer.

“The times of gaining from the government in exchange of shoddy works are long gone and will not be accepted,” said Dr Nkedianye.

“It is important that all the contractors take their work seriously, do it fairly to benefit the Kenyans,” he said.

The governor further said corrupt contractors will be prosecuted, warning that “corruption among the contractors has always led to substandard work leading to complaints and blames that we are not going to tolerate it.”

Some of the contractors had not been paid since 2010 when they completed projects.

“We have today released Sh34 million that we owed contractors who carried out various works for the benefit of this county,” he said while releasing the cheques in Kajiado Town on Monday last week.

The governor asked firms working for the county government to give such contracts the much-needed attention for the benefit of both parties.

In the past, contractors have come under sharp criticism when roads they did wore off soon after completion. Kenya allocates billions of shillings yearly for building new roads and their maintenance, especially when the focus has been on infrastructure development.

He said it was the business of all firms to learn from star performers and raise standards.

Dr Nkedianye promised that his government would ensure payments for were prompt in the future.

All tenders, the Kajiado chief said, will be awarded openly in the pursuit of merit and fairness.

“All tenders must be commissioned in a process where the public, media and other people are involved,” he said.

Using open methods during procurement, he said, would not only raise the confidence, but also help the government to use the best companies. The governor said the county will use water-tight monitoring where a team will go round to make sure contractors do not use short-cuts.

Every cent spent on such contracts must have value, the governor told the building firms.