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{
"id": 1271998,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1271998/?format=api",
"text_counter": 123,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Alice Wahome",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation",
"speaker": null,
"content": "contract commenced on 9th June, 2017 and was expected to be completed on 9th August, 2020. During the Financial Year 2019/2020, the project was faced with inadequate budgetary allocation which led to delays in making timely payments to the contractor. The contractor, on 6th February, 2020 terminated the contract, citing delays in payment. At the time of termination, the project progress was at 43 per cent. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Ministry through the NIA, with the concurrence of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who were the funding agency, procured two local contractors after the termination of the first contract, to complete the balance of the works, so that farmers could benefit from the project. The project has since progressed to an overall completion status of 70 per cent. The delay in the completion of the project, therefore, would be attributed to further issues of pending land succession or claims and dispute cases arising therein that are yet to be determined by family members, through the courts or among themselves. That has been a challenge, not just in this particular project, but in many of our projects. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the total length of the main canal is 2.4 kilometers. We have done and completed 1.5 kilo meters. There are also other works, such as the smaller branches emerging from the main canal that delivers water to the farmers totalling to 23 kilometers, which has been done. Thereafter, we will need to do structures between the canals to release the water. Finally, is the Question on the measures the Government has taken to ensure completion of the project to enable farmers resume normal farming activities and if I could provide a timeline of this. The project is structured in a way that normal farming activities are not interrupted. The Government has allocated Kshs2 billion, that is the Government of Kenya (GoK) component of Kshs545 million and then a donor component from JICA of Kshs1.4 billion, in the Financial Year 2023/2024 for this particular Mwea Irrigation Scheme. With that, we will see the project to the end. The contractors have been instructed to increase the rate of implementation and adhere to the strict timelines. The manager and the Principal Secretary (PS) for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation are closely monitoring and supervising the project. We have also held several meetings, including the last one on 11th of July, to ensure that we respond to questions that are raised by farmers. The hon. Senator, the owner of this Question, was privileged to be part of the team that attended the last meeting, together with my PS and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIA, held at Mwea grounds on 11th July, 2023. We appreciate the support from the hon. Senator. Thank you."
}