Ruto Receives Bad News While Abroad as His CS Is Given a 9-Day Ultimatum to Explain This to Kenyans

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir is under pressure to explain why a major road project in Western Kenya remains incomplete years after its original deadline.

The Senate has given Chirchir until October 30, 2026, to provide answers about the delayed Musikoma-Buyofu-Mungatsi-Myanga-Mateka Road project, whose contract is valued at approximately KSh1.961 billion.

The demand follows concerns raised by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah during a Senate sitting on October 7. The committee wants a clear explanation of the delays, funding, tendering process and quality of work carried out on the road.

According to reports published on Thursday, October 22, the project was initially expected to be completed in September 2018. However, it remains unfinished, raising questions about how public funds have been used over the years.

The Senate is seeking original tender documents, the contract, details of extensions granted and an explanation of the project’s current status. It also wants a breakdown of money allocated, released, committed and paid to the contractor.

Another issue concerns a new tender issued in 2026 to complete part of the road despite the existing contract. The committee wants the government to explain the legal, financial and technical reasons behind the decision.

Omtatah has also called for an independent engineering audit to establish whether the completed sections meet the required standards. The proposed checks would cover road materials, pavement thickness, drainage and construction quality.

The committee further wants to know whether officials properly inspected and approved the completed sections, especially where deterioration has reportedly been observed.

The road project serves areas in Western Kenya, including parts of Busia County, where residents and other road users stand to benefit from its completion.

Chirchir’s response is expected to clarify what caused the prolonged delay and what steps the government will take to finish the project without exposing taxpayers to unnecessary additional costs.

Do you think the government should take action against officials responsible for long-delayed road projects?

Scavenger [email protected]