President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday warned that the government will blacklist contractors who failed to complete their construction work on time.
Speaking after commissioning the Kangema-Gacharage road in Kiharu constituency in Muranga County, Uhuru said the government would not compromise on lazy contractors who do not complete their work on schedule.
“It is time contractors uphold high quality workmanship or be blacklisted from carrying out projects in Kenya,” said the President.
“There is no need for contractors to ask for jobs if they know well they will abandon the work halfway,” he added.
Uhuru who was accompanied by his deputy William Ruto said delay in construction of roads undermines efforts to improve the lives of Kenyans and create employment opportunities for the youth.
He said the government is paying special attention on implementation and completion of projects that create direct positive impact on the lives of Kenyans.
Mr Kenyatta said the Government would not relent in its commitment to open up interior parts of the country for development.
“The upgrading and improvement of roads in all parts of our country will spur development and improve economic status of our people,” said Uhuru.
He said the 33-kilometer road, which was constructed at a cost of Sh4.1bilion will boost marketing of farm produce including coffee and livestock products among others.
The President, at the same time, said the Jubilee administration has in this financial year set aside Sh2.4 billion as bailout for coffee farmers in the region.
“Sh 2.4billion bailout has been injected into the coffee sector to help farmers pay their loans and get title deeds for their lands,” said President Kenyatta.
The President told off former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his continued criticism of the Jubilee administration’s development projects.
He said Mr Odinga’s aim was to convince the Africa Development Bank and the World Bank to stop sponsoring Jubilee projects with his wild allegations of corruption to achieve his selfish ends.
“The aim of the Opposition leader is to convince ADB and World Bank to stop availing resources for us to initiate development projects in the pretext that there is corruption so that he can tell Kenyans we have failed to deliver,” said President Kenyatta.
The Head of State said the government was committed to the unity of all Kenyans saying days for confrontational politics were long gone.
Mr Ruto said the government was focused on its development agenda for Kenyans.
“We are confident of our performance and track record. There is a big difference between those engaging in rhetoric and performance,” said Mr Ruto.
The Deputy President said the government would continue implementing development projects that create positive impact in the lives of the people citing the construction of roads, connection of electricity, improvement of health and education among other projects.
“We are clear in what we are doing for Kenyans unlike our competitors who are busy engaging in demonstrations and rhetoric,” said Ruto.
Present were Cabinet Secretaries Eugene Wamalwa (Water), James Macharia (Transport) and Jacob Kaimenyi (Lands).
Others were MPs Kembi Getura (Murang’a) Irungu Kangata (Kiharu), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurweini), Clement Wambugu (Mathioya), Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo), Sabina Chege (Muranga), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Yusuf Hassan (Kamukunji), Emma Mbura (nominated), Tirus Ngahu (Kangema), Peter Kamande (Maragua and Governor Mwangi wa Iria among others.
The MPs hailed development projects being initiated by the government with the aim of improving the lives of Kenyans.
The leaders accused opposition leaders of engaging in mere politicking to discredit the Jubilee administration’s development projects.
They said the crusade by the opposition to discredit the work of the Government will not stop Kenyans from voting for Jubilee come 2017.
Uhuru also launched the construction work on the Mukuyu- Kambiria-Mirira-Gwathamaki-Ngonda-Mununga road before commissioning medical equipment and officially opened the Murang’a MRI Centre. He also addressed wananchi in Murang’a town.
--PSCU