Narok residents ask implementing agencies to engage local contractors

Narok, Sunday May 21, 2023

K.N.A By Ann Salaton

Narok residents have called on departments to engage local contractors when implementing projects supported by the National Government as they understand the terrain better than contractors from other counties.

The residents said this when they presented their views to a team from the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA) who toured the county to seek comments from the residents on the projects implemented in the first and second policy of the equalisation fund.

The CRA team led by their Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Katule toured several projects implemented using the equitable fund and held focus groups with the local residents.

Pastor Moses Marima who spoke at Erusiai Primary School in Narok North Sub County said a water project and roads made in the area were not up to standard as the contractors were contracted from Nairobi and did not understand the challenges on the ground.

He called on the government to engage local contractors who will be available to be questioned by the residents’ years after the project is completed.

“For instance, the borehole drilled at Olchoro Dispensary is unable to function because of a minor problem. If the contractor was known to the residents, he would be easily approached and asked to repair the broken part,” he said.

Suswa residents led by their Member of County Assembly (MCA) Salaash Kisotu also echoed the sentiments saying two water projects that were allocated over Sh150 million to be constructed in the area were never done.

“We want the local contractors who have the capacity to make such mega dams to be awarded the projects so that we can question them and make follow up easily in case the project is faulty,” he said.

The Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde had highlighted the same issue when the CRA officials had visited his office saying most projects built by a contractor who was not well known by the residents were done in a shoddy manner.

He cited an example of classrooms and a laboratory being built at Emurua Dikir constituency that he alleged were poorly done despite the contractor having been paid millions of shillings.

While noting their concerns, CEO Katule said all projects implemented by the equalization fund should be well labeled to differentiate them from other projects being implemented in the county.

89 sub locations in Narok that are deemed to be the most marginalized are set to benefit from the third policy equalization fund.

Courtesy K.N.A