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{
    "id": 1424311,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1424311/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 59,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Zachariah Njeru",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, Sir, in response to Question number one, I want to respond as follows- The Mandera Water Supply Project commenced on 31st January, 2019, with an original contract period of 18 months and hence original completion date was 30th July, 2020. However, the contract was extended five times leading to revised contract period of 47 months. The revised completion date was 31st December, 2023. Due to the contractor’s inability to complete the works, the parties to the contract agreed to mutually terminate the contract. The project is currently at 72 per cent in terms of works implemented. It is expected to serve about 400,000 people within Mandera Town and its environs when completed. On the other hand, Mandera Sewerage Project commenced on 1st November, 2018 with an original contract period of 18 months. The original completion date was 30th April, 2020. The contract has been extended four times. Consequently, the revised completion date is 7th July, 2024.Currently, the project is at 73 per cent as per the works carried out and is expected to serve about 80,000 people. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the main causes of delays in the project are as follows- For Mandera Water Supply Project, which is being done by Suhufi Agencies in a joint venture with Shaanxi Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Groups Limited, the first reason for the delay was master list approval. Approval of the master list took about one year and this led to delay in commencement of works. The contractor could not buy materials because exemptions were being waited for. The number two reason for the delay was the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in restrictions that negatively impeded the project's progress. Additionally, price escalations of construction materials were experienced arising from the global effect of the pandemic. The third reason was mobilisation. Inadequate mobilisation of staff, plant and equipment and construction materials by the contractor also caused the delay on the Mandera Sewerage Project that is being done by Sinohydro Corporation Limited. The other one reason for the delay was also master list approval. Approval of the master list took about one year and this led to delay in the commencement of works. The contractor could not buy materials because the exemptions were being waited for. There was also the issue of insecurity. The project was suspended on 12th April, 2019 due to insecurities associated with the abduction of Cuban doctors that occurred in Mandera Town. The works remained suspended until 3rd November, 2020 when the Government managed to provide a secure campsite to the contractor. The other reason for the delay of the Mandera Sewerage Project was the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) issue. Due to the objection of the RAPs, the Government had to change the designs twice, thereby increasing the scope of works, which required additional funding, hence more time to execute the works. As a result, an addendum was made to cater for the extra cost that amounted to Kshs484,261,223.81. The other reason was the additional works. Increased scope of work mainly due to Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) issues required additional funding. The process of sourcing additional funds has been completed and approved by the"
}