Marwa warns contractors over delays in completing roads
President Uhuru Kenyatta launches the building of Kinango-Samburu road at Samburu in Kwale County on March 13, 2017. Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa has put on notice the contractor working on the road and another working on Lamu-Garsen for delaying in completing the projects. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Mr Marwa accused contractors in charge of the Lamu-Garsen and Kinango-Samburu roads of “playing funny games”.
President Kenyatta launched the building of the 53-kilometre Kinango-Samburu road in March 2017.
Mr Marwa said the government will not allow “Kenyans to be taken as fools”.
Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa has put on notice contractors working on two key roads to be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta over delays in completing the projects.
Mr Marwa accused contractors in charge of the Lamu-Garsen and Kinango-Samburu roads of “playing funny games”.
“It is one thing to get a contract and it is another to complete it within the stipulated time. We do not know what is happening with these contractors working on the Lamu-Garsen and Kinango-Samburu roads.
“The one in Lamu has been given enough security but he keeps changing goal posts and the other one of Kinango-Samburu has only done three kilometres [of] tarmac. He is behind schedule,” said Mr Marwa.
UHURU LAUNCH
President Kenyatta launched the building of the 53-kilometre Kinango-Samburu road in March 2017 which will cost Sh2 billion to complete.
Mr Marwa told the contractors to leave the projects if they cannot handle them saying the government will not allow “Kenyans to be taken as fools”.
He added: “Kenyans must get value for their money. We must give Kenyans their worth.”
Mr Marwa spoke as leaders from Tana River County demanded compensation for land that will be acquired for construction of the Garsen-Lamu road, and not alternative land as proposed by the National Land Commission (NLC).
NLC has maintained that those who will be affected by the construction of the 135-kilometre road will be given alternative land and not money.
COMPENSATION
On Thursday, NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri said the commission’s plan is to ensure all those affected by the road project in Lamu are offered alternative land for resettlement and not monetary compensation.
Speaking at a press conference in Mombasa on Friday, MPs Ali Wario (Garsen) and Said Hiribaye (Galole) said Tana River leaders would not accept any other compensation except money.
They said just like other Kenyans where land was acquired for construction of roads were being paid, the same should apply to Tana River residents.
Those affected are from Witu, Pangani, Majembeni, Kibaoni, Mkunumbi, Ndeu, Sabasaba and Hindi areas.
They want to be paid Sh1.5 million per acre.
“In other parts of the country where land is being acquired for construction of roads and railway, land owners are being paid loads of cash. Why is it that our people won’t be paid? Are we lesser Kenyans? We don’t want double standards and we will not accept this,” said Mr Wario.
