Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1510503,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1510503/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 139,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndia, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Kariuki",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "significant inconveniences to the locals and alternative measures for the impassable sections of the road. The Committee received a response from the Ministry of Roads and Transport through the Clerk of the National Assembly, which I now wish to present. With regard to the challenges experienced by the project leading to the prolonged delay in the completion of the upgrade of the said road, the Ministry acknowledges that the project for upgrading to bitumen standard and maintaining Cheborge Junction has suffered prolonged delays. The 18-month project, which commenced in August 2021, was intended to be completed in March 2023, but has since lasted 38 months. That is a 211 per cent time lapse. The main reason for the delay in the completion of the project is the inadequate financial capacity of the contractor, namely MSQ Construction Company Limited. Concerning whether the full contract sum for the project was paid to the contractor and the justification for payment despite the project being incomplete, the contractor has so far been paid his advance payment amounting to Ksh59 million and is contractually obligated. He has since not raised another certificate for processing and has consequently not been paid any further amount. Regarding the update on when the contractor will resume the works and the expected timeline for completion of the road, considering that the Sotik-Silalo section is impassable, the Ministry, through Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), served the contractor the requisite notice of slow progress in August 2022, thereby commencing the process of terminating the contract due to non-performance. Furthermore, the agency has convened a management meeting with the contractor to identify ways through which the works of the project can be fast-tracked and completed in the shortest time possible. To this end, the contractor shall be further required to provide a detailed work schedule with clear timelines for the completion of the project. In the event that there is no immediate improvement in progress, KeRRA shall invoke the relevant contractual clauses and initiate mutual termination of the contract to repackage the remainder of the works to form a new contract and proceed to identify a contractor through a competitive procurement process. With regard to the measures being taken by the Ministry to ensure that value for money is obtained with respect to the project without causing significant inconveniences to the locals and alternative measures for the impassable section of the road, the Ministry commits to ensuring that all work on the road adheres to acceptable engineering standards without fail to guarantee value for money at the project. This shall be through existing contractual and administrative controls that are designed to ensure the requisite quality is upheld. Regarding maintenance, the contractor is under instruction to maintain the entire road ahead of works and shall be tasked to prioritise ensuring the road is passable in the immediate term. I submit."
}