Jomvu: The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has been urged by the National Assembly Implementation Committee to hasten the completion of the three-kilometre stretch of the Jomvu Kuu-Jitoni-Rabai road, which has stalled in Jomvu constituency for seven years since the inception of the project.
According to Kenya News Agency, the delay has been attributed to the contractor abandoning the site due to non-payment of pending bills. However, KURA has now allocated Sh1 billion, paving the way for the completion of the critical link road that connects Mombasa and Kilifi County. It also complements the Mombasa-Nairobi highway as an alternative route to Mariakani.
The visit by the committee follows a petition to the National Assembly by the area MP, Bady Twalib. In his petition, the legislator said the remaining section of the road is dilapidated and impassable during the rainy season. The Committee, chaired by Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala, assessed the progress of the road accompanied by KURA officials led by Director General, Eng. Silas Kinoti, who confirmed that the contractor has already been paid and is mobilizing equipment to resume work.
Hon. Wanjala warned the Authority that further delays to the project would lead to disciplinary action, as the delay has caused widespread frustration among residents. 'This road is vital to the people of this area. It has caused sleepless nights. We expected it to be completed on time, but delays have only added to the suffering,' stated Wanjala. He added that the contractor claimed delayed government payments had severely affected his operations, even leading to the auctioning of his assets.
Meanwhile, the committee was upset by the absence of the Kenya National Highways Authority Director General, Eng. Kungu Ndungu, who failed to attend the assessment of the Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu road that had faced land compensation challenges and court cases. 'It is highly disrespectful that the Director General would ignore the presence of elected MPs. We wrote to inform him of our visit, and yet he failed to show up or even offer an official explanation,' Wanjala said.
The chairman added that the committee would be meeting privately to deliberate the next course of action, warning that Parliament has the power to take disciplinary measures. 'Let him read the Standing Orders. We have the power to recommend his removal from the office. This kind of negligence cannot be tolerated, especially on a project that directly affects the lives and development of our people,' he added.