The ongoing construction of Magura primary school toilets after a directive from county public health officials has stalled after the contractor allegedly abandoned the project after being paid by the institution’s management.
Speaking during the Sunday service at Magura Catholic, school headteacher Alloys Ombati said the contractor had failed to honor his contract after being paid by the committee in charge of contraction, making it difficult for the institution to resume as the opening date nears.
Mr Ombati made an appeal to the government to help trace the contractor -- Peterson and Sons -- who has since gone missing, hence putting the lives of more than 1,000 students at risk of failing to report for officials opening dates.
“I am a worried man simply because the contractor has failed to honor his part. The management had paid him hoping that the toilets should be ready as schools resume but now the case is different. I appeal to the government to help the institution trace him as soon as possible,” he said.
According to him, the institution had made payment due to immense pressure from county officials in charge of public health in a bid to motivate the contract to fast-track the process.
“We had made payments due to immense pressure that we were getting from the county public health officials. We had to do it in a bid to ensure that our children report to school in September,” he said.
Area MCA Alfayo Mwongeresa blamed the county officials for ‘piling unnecessary pressure’ and asked for more time to trace the contractors.