By Kelvin Sang, Eldoret
The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised serious concerns over several stalled flagship projects in Uasin Gishu County, valued at billions of shillings, citing possible misappropriation of public funds and poor project prioritization.
Led by Committee Chair and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, the PAC called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to swiftly investigate the expenditure on the abandoned projects to ensure accountability and recovery of lost public resources.
Kajwang said it was unfortunate that key developments, including the Sh700 million 64 Stadium, the 400-bed Ziwa Level 5 Hospital (which has already consumed over Sh490 million), and the Sh2.4 billion Jackson Mandago Special Needs Assessment Centre, have all stalled.
“During our tour of mega projects in Uasin Gishu, we were shocked to discover that most of them have been abandoned. Contractors who were paid for the work left the sites over two years ago without completing the projects,” said Kajwang.
The PAC, accompanied by Senators Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta), Enock Wambua (Kitui), Samson Cherargei (Nandi), and Steve Lelegwe (Samburu), visited the stalled sites and later held a session with Governor Jonathan Bii at the Uasin Gishu County Assembly.
The committee found that the contractor at Ziwa Level 5 Hospital had failed to complete both Phase One and Two despite receiving payments. Shockingly, the county had already tendered Phase Three, even before finishing the initial phases.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Bii defended his administration, saying the stalled projects were inherited from the previous regime led by now-Senator Jackson Mandago. He cited financial constraints as the major hurdle preventing completion of the projects.
“I cannot lie to you that I will complete all the mega projects I inherited. My administration is exploring partnerships with development agencies to help finance stalled health projects,” said Governor Bii.
Senator Mwaruma expressed concern over the county’s continued launch of new mega projects while existing ones remain incomplete. “It’s disturbing to see numerous abandoned flagship projects across the county. It raises questions on how the county executive prioritizes development,” he said.
Nandi Senator Cherargei accused the county government of poor planning and wastage of taxpayers’ money, especially in favoring beautification projects over essential infrastructure. He urged the EACC to act swiftly and bring those responsible to book.
In response, Governor Bii assured the committee that efforts were underway to mitigate the situation, though he emphasized the need for additional funding to move forward.
The Senate committee’s findings now place pressure on oversight bodies to investigate and prosecute any wrongdoing as residents continue to wait for the completion of crucial development projects.
