This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i announced that the government would crack down on contractors who fail to deliver on time or do shoddy work.
Dr Matiang'i, who is also the chairperson of the National Development, Implementation, Communication, Cabinet Committee (NDICCC), stated that the government had reassigned 30% of all road projects in the Western region.
He emphasized that there should be no excuse for non-completion of projects, as the National Treasury has been releasing the required funds.
Dr Matiang'i cited an example of a contractor who had failed to complete a road in Nyandarua County, which was commissioned four years ago. He ordered the contractor's immediate arrest and prosecution, stating that the government would no longer tolerate such behavior.
The government has also announced plans to revive key economic sectors in Western Kenya, including sugar, coffee, and cotton. The Ministry of Agriculture has briefed leaders on the progress made in reviving the sugar sector, and plans to create a sugar board and a sugar levy fund are underway.
Additionally, the government will be leasing out non-performing sugar mills to the private sector and writing off accumulated debts. Coffee farming will also be revived through the improvement of infrastructure, and demonstration farms have been set up to revive cotton production.
On the issue of floods, the government has allocated over Ksh 1.5 billion towards flood control and recovery efforts. A technical committee will visit the Western region next week to assess the situation and provide support to those affected.
