Residents of Kisumu County now want investigations done on Auditor-General Edward Ouko regarding the delayed opening of the Lake Basin mall.

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Despite having been scheduled to be opened a year ago, the Sh3.8 billion project remains closed ongoing investigations regarding the construction cost quotes.

The residents on Monday held demonstrations on the streets of the city, questioning why the mall remains dormant a year after Ouko gave it the go-ahead after an audit.

They wondered why Ouko gave the mall a clean bill of health, yet there is an ongoing probe over alleged inflation of the construction cost from Sh2.5 billion to Sh4.1 billion.

“We are aware of the advice from the office of the Auditor-General to the Devolution CS and the Controller of Budget to pay the contractor on a clean bill of health. If there were issues then they ought not to have paid. We, therefore, read politics and Minister motives in this (investigations),” they said in a statement signed by their Spokesperson, Edgar Odoyo.

Civil society groups, small traders and residents also want Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo to explain the delays of the funds owed to contractors.

This is despite their offices having released the money.

The group is now terming this is economic sabotage as they have been eyeing the opportunities being offered by the mall, whose opening has been delayed.