CONTACTS: +254 726879488 (Mobile)
+254770 455 116 (Office)
By BF Staff WriterSubstandard roads and delayed road projects dominated concerns raised by board members of Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and engineering consultants at a consultative meeting with the authority and consultants in Nairobi.
KeNHA’s Chairman Erastus Mwongera put contractors and industry professionals on a tight spot over shoddy projects which have seen most roads stall midway soon after take-off while at the same time saying procurement laws were partly to blame amid growing concern over the poor road works in the country.
“During implementation, substandard works have been reported resulting into premature failure of roads hence value for money is not achieved. Consultants need to undertake strict supervision and ensure compliance with the specifications outlined in the contracts. The KeNHA Board of Directors is particularly concerned with issues to do with claims,” he said.
In the design phase of some of the projects which are being undertaken by local and foreign contractors for instance, Mwongera revealed that the authority’s officials had encountered omissions and inaccuracies resulting from both consultants and contractors appointed to undertake mega road projects that fell below professional standards.
“We have encountered errors and inaccuracies which are below professional standards which have led to variations in quantity and cost leading to cost and time overruns during project implementation. On this we urge the Consultants to be careful and pay attention to accuracy of design data,” said Mwongera.
Most roads across the country are in pathetic states which have forced Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators to charge travelers double the normal fare to cover the cost of increased wear and tear on their vehicles.
Motorists have equally suffered consequences of contractors’ negligence on current poor roads following the passing of a new bill which led to the introduction of a road user charge on other national and county roads based on distance traveled and vehicle weight which resulting to a Sh3 service charge for every liter of fuel bought. The additional fees (toll fee) are to be used for maintenance of highways and county roads.
Nicholas Musuni from the Registrar Engineer’s Board of Kenya (ERB) further says that more partnerships with county governments would play a crucial role in lessening the dangers being witnessed in the sector – saying new legislation need to be put in place to allow complete scrutiny of all road projects and contractors undertaking them at the counties.
“We will begin engagements with counties in an effort to help address some of these challenges the sector is presently faced with especially on how to handle the rogue contractors and consultants. The new Legislation we are currently in discussion to draft could help boost the sector,” said Musuni