County in rush to meet Sh4bn project deadline

The Kisumu County government is in a rush to implement a mega project funded by the French Government to the tune of Sh4 billion.

The devolved unit is required to build nine kilometres of bitumen standard roads, five modern primary schools, drainage systems, bridges and health centres.

One of the conditions of the French Development Agency grant is that the work should be completed by September next year.

Only 23 floodlights have so far been installed at major trading centres under the Kisumu Urban Project, which was initiated in September 2012. Major works are yet to start.

Lack of land, lengthy procurement, political interests and the demand for compensation by residents have been cited as impediments in carrying out the work.

The demand for compensation for land targeted for use has increased the cost of the project. The county will have to look for extra cash to buy the land and compensate the locals who will be affected.

Governor Jack Ranguma yesterday said the county had pulled out all the stops to meet the deadline.

“We spent a lot of time in the planning stages. The law requires us to engage the public in every step we make to avert community resistance,” Mr Ranguma told the Nation by phone.

“To beat the deadline, we intend to start with areas that have no challenges, as we chart the way forward on the difficult ones. We urge the locals to look at the greater picture — the end result of this initiative,” he added.

He said his administration was negotiating for an extension of the deadline, adding that talks with the donor were going on well.

The plan to move the town’s dumpsite, which is adjacent to Moi Stadium, is considered the governor’s major headache.

Muhoroni MP James Koyoo has threatened to lead his constituents in opposing the plan to move the dumpsite to the constituency.