Embattled Nakuru County Executive for Roads Eng Lucy Kariuki on Wednesday defended herself before an ad-hoc committee of the County Assembly over allegations of failing to deliver on the Boresha Barabara and street lighting projects.
The allegations were part of an adopted report by the committee on Infrastructure that recommended her impeachment.
According to the report tabled by the committee's chair Michael Machembu., the MCA's lamented that even after raising concerns on the projects in various wards and summoning the CeC 12 times, she only showed up four times while she ignored the rest of the summons.
However, appearing before the ad-hoc committee the Cec refuted claims that she had interfered with the Boresha Barabara and the street lighting project.
She said the Boresha Barabara project was delayed in some wards due to the delay in the approval of the budget.
She further noted that since 9th April to 30th June 2019, 503 Kilometres of roads have been graded and 72 Kilometres gravelled under the Boresha Barabara program.
“The program has never been altered. The dates were changed from 4th March to 9th April due to the budget approval. I want to state here that the project has not been halted," Eng Kariuki told the committee.
She however admitted before the Peter Kajwang’-led ad-hoc committee that the program has faced challenges among them climate changes forcing the halting in 21 wards.
The CeC further revealed to the committee that the street lighting program had been halted by Governor Lee Kinyanjui due to huge pending bills.
“By the time we assumed office we inherited huge bills concerning street lights. However, the governor wrote to the national government to halt any installation of new street lights in Nakuru and that is why the situation is the way it is” she said.
The CeC, however, stated that the county has put in place maintenance mechanisms with recent technology.
Her fate will now be determined after the ad-hoc committee finalizes their report.
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