Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to contractors accused of delaying government projects, saying those who fail to meet agreed timelines will be removed from sites.
Prof Kindiki said the Government would no longer tolerate contractors who keep Kenyans waiting for roads and other infrastructure despite receiving payments and signing contracts with clear completion timelines.
“From now on, we have no business with road contractors who delay the work of the people of Kenya yet they have been paid by the Government,” the Deputy President said.
He spoke on Tuesday during an inspection tour of development projects in Mathira Constituency, where he checked progress on the Mung’etho-Thuthwa-Gathugu-Gakiti road before addressing residents at Thuthwa Trading Centre.
“All the lazy contractors who are slowing down the work assigned to them will be kicked out. My work is to ensure the Government’s projects are completed on time and meet the required standards. There is no place for those playing around with the work assigned to them,” Prof Kindiki said.
The Mung’etho-Thuthwa-Gathugu-Gakiti road is expected to be completed within the next two months, according to the Deputy President.
The project is among several roads being upgraded in Mathira as the Government rolls out a major road improvement programme across Nyeri County.
Other roads currently being tarmacked in the constituency include Muthua-Kiawarigi-Kabiruini, Kiamwangi-Kahuru-Gitemaini and Karura-Kiawarigi.
The Government has already completed the Ndima-ini-Gatina road, while the Sagana-Karatina-Marua section of the Thika-Kenol-Sagana-Marua Dual Carriageway has also been completed. The dual carriageway is planned for extension to Nyeri Town.
Across Nyeri County, the Government has earmarked Sh45 billion for the tarmacking of 775 kilometres of roads covering Mathira, Othaya, Mukurwe-ini, Kieni, Nyeri Town and Tetu constituencies.
Prof Kindiki said the road programme was intended not only to improve transport but also to unlock the county’s agricultural and commercial potential.
He said better roads would ease movement of people and goods, reduce post harvest losses, create employment and improve access to markets for farmers.
“This region is home to hardworking farmers. For a long period, this area has been left behind. Milk gets spoiled on the way; when it rains, milk trucks cannot pass, and the milk gets spoiled. These roads are therefore meant to improve dairy and coffee farming,” he said.
At Thuthwa, the Deputy President also outlined a raft of other Government interventions targeting households, farmers, students, traders and patients across Nyeri.
He said Sh650 million had been allocated to last mile electrification projects expected to connect an additional 12,000 households to the national grid.
Of these, 717 households in Mathira are set to benefit from electricity connections at a cost of Sh55 million.
The Deputy President also said 13 fresh produce markets, 10 affordable housing projects and six student hostel projects were at different stages of implementation across the county under the Government’s housing programme.
The projects are valued at about Sh17 billion, with a further Sh5 billion worth of projects prioritised for implementation.
Among the market projects is the modern Marikiti Market in Karatina, which has been completed.
The Government has also revived the stalled Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri Town, a project that had remained incomplete for more than 15 years. The facility is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
In the health sector, Prof Kindiki said simultaneous upgrading of Mwai Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital in Othaya to a Level Six facility and rehabilitation of Nyeri Provincial General Hospital to enhance its Level Five status were ongoing.
The two projects have each received Sh1 billion, bringing the combined allocation to Sh2 billion.
The Deputy President said farmers were also beginning to benefit from improved prices for milk and coffee, alongside lower prices of key agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, certified seeds and sexed semen.
He linked the infrastructure investments to the wider Government effort to improve agricultural productivity and household incomes.
Prof Kindiki also used the meeting to call for political tolerance and unity among residents of the Mount Kenya region, warning against turning political differences into personal or community conflicts.
He urged politicians across the political divide to sell their policies to voters and allow citizens to make their own choices without intimidation.
“Those of us who come from this region of Mount Kenya, let us maintain our unity. Let us not fight because of politics. Politics will come and go, but we will continue to be one community,” he said.
The Deputy President cautioned politicians against inciting supporters to attack or harass their opponents because of political differences.
“All politicians, across all political sides, should calm down. Do not incite citizens to stone someone’s vehicle or harass someone simply because you disagree with them. Sell your politics, sell your policies, and let the other person sell theirs. Let the people decide who will win and lead us,” he said.
He added that politicians who lose elections should accept the outcome and wait for another opportunity.
The Deputy President also announced an escalation of the Government’s campaign against illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, saying the measures were aimed at protecting communities from the social and economic damage associated with substance abuse.
The Mathira tour brought together Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge, Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, Members of the County Assembly and other local leaders.
The inspection came as the Government seeks to accelerate implementation of infrastructure projects across Nyeri, with the Deputy President placing contractors on notice over delays while highlighting roads, electricity, health facilities, markets, housing and agricultural interventions as key components of the county’s development programme.
