Government to conduct audit of stalled projects in Lamu County

The national government has announced plans to conduct a special audit of all stalled projects in Lamu County that cost the tax-payer millions of shillings.

Lamu County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri who is also the coordinator of all government projects in the region said those involved in misappropriation of funds intended for such projects will face the full force of the law.

In an exclusive interview with the Nation on Monday, Mr Kanyiri cited projects such as the Sh20 million Mpeketoni Secondary School Library and the Mpeketoni DCI offices, all of which were funded by the previous county administration of former Governor Issa Timamy as among the projects which need urgent scrutiny.

Other projects include the Sh55 million Hongwe Technical Training Institute in Lamu West which was undertaken by the national government as well as the building of the Mkokoni and Kizingitini sea walls.

NOT SATISFACTORY

According to Mr Kanyiri, the work done on some of the projects is not satisfactory.

“After observing what is ongoing on the ground in as far as projects by the national and county governments are concerned, we will be forced to do a special audit particularly on all stalled projects to determine why they stalled and whether payments made are commensurate to what exists on the ground. Appropriate action will be taken if there is impropriety on all parties concerned,” said Mr Kanyiri.

He said he is aware that some rogue contractors were paid millions yet the projects have stalled.

LEADERS UNHAPPY

A section of Lamu leaders who were interviewed by the Nation on Monday also confirmed that despite millions of shillings being set aside for the projects many years ago, nothing much has been done so far with majority of the projects left undone.

Hongwe MCA James Komu wondered why the government is taking too long to punish those concerned.

“We are supporting the move to conduct special audit for all the stalled projects. The Hongwe Technical Training Institute was to take only two years to be ready but five years have elapsed and nothing has been done. I am aware the government has already spent millions on such projects and we need auditing and those involved to face the full wrath of the law,” said Mr Komu.

EACC PROBE

In Kiunga in Lamu East, residents called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the fate of a Sh250 million piped water project that was launched almost five years ago.

The project was meant to channel clean piped water from Lake Mangai to Kiunga town and was expected to bring to an end the constant water shortages in Lamu East.

Locals are now questioning where the millions of money allocated to the project went.

“I want the previous county administration to come clean on what happened to the water project. It is actually dead at the moment,” said Mr Athman.

In Mkokoni and Kizingitini villages in Lamu East, residents risk having their houses swept away by the Indian Ocean waters after sea walls in their areas broke down and caved in.

The sea walls were built by the county and national governments a few years ago to stop the flow of water from the Indian Ocean into public areas.

But the walls have already collapsed due to lack of maintenance and shoddy work said to have been done by the contractors