The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs & Energy chaired by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South) has raised concerns on delays experienced in the construction of Likoni Bridge.

Speaking during an inspection visit to Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) along Mombasa Road, the Chairperson emphasized on the need for government projects to have value for money to the public.

“Every government project should be completed within the required timeline and be useful to the people of Kenya”, noted Hon. Pkosing.  

The inspection tour attended by the Director General KURA, Eng. Silas Kinoti and the Kenya Railway Corporation, Eng. Mwania Mativo covered the Likoni Road Bridge, the Enterprise Road and the Shreeji Road projects. The tour followed an Audit Query picked by the Auditor General on the three projects which started in October 2020.

According to the Auditor General, Improvement of Nairobi Lot 2 - Upgrading of Shreeji Road and Parts of Likoni and Enterprise Roads, the contract for the road works was awarded to a construction company at a contract sum of Kshs.892,661,116 on 8 September, 2020 for a contract duration of 24 months with expected completion date of 30 September, 2022. It also included a 36 months Performance Based Contract (PBC) on maintenance at a cost of Kshs.13,250,790.; a project yet to be completed.

In response, Eng. Kinoti indicated that major works had been completed pending 0.18 Kms overlay at the bridge section with 86% of enterprise road completed and 73% of the Shreeji road accomplished.

“Chairman and Members, having completed major works, expansion of the existing bridge was excluded due to the new requirements from the Kenya Railways Corporation”, noted Eng. Kinoti.

Hon. Duncan Mathenge (Nyeri Town) inquired whether KURA would carter for the adjustment cost on the Likoni bridge but Eng. Kinoti explained that the expansion was initially not part of the budget and will require more resources to implement.

The Vice- Chairperson, Hon. John Ariko (Turkana South) indicated that both Kenya Railways Corporation and KURA need to have a discussion on a joint funding of the bridge expansion for the benefit of the country. He further raised an issue with the implementation timeline saying that the project was way overdue.

The Committee through Hon. David Pkosing (Chairperson) directed Director General, Kenya Urban Roads Authority Eng. Silas Kinoti, to proceed with the construction of the bridge to completion by June, 2025.

He however indicated that the Kenya Railways Corporation concern on lifting the bridge to 7.1 Meters by expanding 2 Meters will be considered at the time of implementation of the electric railway which seemed far reaching at the moment.

‘The Government has invested in this project with an aim of managing traffic congestion in the Industrial Area and the public must get value for money through its immediate completion.”, said Hon. Pkosing.

The Office of the Auditor General noted that it was key for the committee to interact with the resources on the project to ensure prudent use of government resources.