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{
    "id": 1275231,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1275231/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 125,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ezekiel Machogu",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13458,
        "legal_name": "Ezekiel Machogu Ombaki",
        "slug": "ezekiel-machogu-ombaki"
    },
    "content": "give them money. We have said that we require things to be done in a proper manner. It means that we do not want to give a contract unless and until we are sure that we have adequate funds to undertake the same. I will have to check with Bomet University in view of what the hon. Member has said, to make sure if there is any contract which has been awarded. What is the nature of the contract? Does the contract involve the component that was supposed to be done under the original contract? Have they not done what is to be done by engaging the contractor? There are official channels of engagement. The project manager must put it in writing to the contractor in order for the contractor to appear or not. I as the CS, cannot informally call the contractor directly. Therefore, the information that I got from the project manager was a confirmation that yes, they have tried, but the contractor, for one reason or the other, has not appeared and hence the decision was taken the way they did. I do not deny it. As I said, there are three extensions that have been done. In case there is a fourth one that was done, then it was not brought to my notice. However, overall, it captures the spirit and the answer that there have been extensions of contracts. However, due to one reason or the other, it has not been completed. What we are doing in the process is comparing the Kshs754 million paid vis-à-vis the amount of work that has been done. The amount which was remaining is Kshs532 million. Is it that the Government gave more or less than what it should have given? That is one other area that we are also trying to establish so that we know whether we gave more to the contractor since he has absconded. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is an issue that we undertake to work on with the funds that we will provide to that particular university. We want to know what exactly we can do with the funds this year and move on until we are able to complete the project. As the hon. Member said, I know there are other issues which we have had discussions separately with the hon. Member and other stakeholders. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, at times, our hands are tied. Once you have given a contract to an individual, then terminating it is another process. If you terminate the contract, you know the way Kenyans are. The matter goes to court and it becomes quite a headache. Therefore, there are other issues that we are engaging in that are not part of this Question. We will do our best. I will also check in case there is a new contractor. As I have said, it has to be brought to my notice and the Ministry. For anything like that to happen there must be concurrence from the Ministry. Thank you."
}