This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
Published on October 23, 2019, a report by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) revealed that 545 projects valued at Sh366 billion had stalled as of June last year. Among these projects, 87 valued at around Sh100 billion fell under the docket of Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.
Mr. Macharia's Ministry of Transport, Housing and Public Works has Sh79 billion worth of projects awaiting implementation. Despite the significant allocation of funds, the ministry has failed to deliver key infrastructure such as bridges, highways, seaports, and airports.
The PBO attributed the poor implementation of projects to inherent weaknesses in project appraisal and management, as well as insufficient allocation of funds, revenue under-performance, non-payment of contractors, and litigation cases in courts.
President Uhuru Kenyatta recently directed that all new projects, except those related to his Big Four agenda, be frozen until ongoing works are completed. This directive aims to reduce the number of white elephant projects and ensure that ongoing projects are completed before new ones are initiated.
As the government continues to grapple with the issue of stalled projects, Transport CS Macharia's legacy remains tainted by the numerous failed initiatives under his watch.
