Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has warned contractors on government projects in Tharaka-Nithi County that they will be arrested and prosecuted if they take public money without delivering the work. He spoke as he launched a road upgrade and an electrification programme in Marimanti, Tharaka Constituency.

Kindiki was in Tharaka Constituency to launch the upgrading of the Marimanti-Kibung'a-Mukuyuni Road to bitumen standards and a Sh685 million electrification project. He said several projects in the county had dragged on for years even though contractors had been paid.

"The contractors have been paid, and we will not tolerate slow or incompetent work," Kindiki said, according to the Nation. "I will not entertain contractors who bring one tractor to a site and take six months to construct a section of road."

He went further, telling residents that contractors who pocket public funds without doing the job "will be charged with obtaining money by false pretence," The Star reported. "We will not tolerate lazy contractors and other conmen," he said. People Daily also reported his warning that errant contractors would face arrest and prosecution.

Officials also on notice

The Deputy President also turned on government officers supervising the works. He directed them to keep a closer eye on projects and to make sure contractors meet agreed timelines. "I am giving notice to government officials that I should not be having more information than officers on the ground," he said, according to The Star. The Nation reported that he ordered officers to monitor all ongoing projects in the county and keep him briefed. He said he would personally follow up on those who miss deadlines, citing stalled hostels at Tharaka University and a technical college.

Roads programme

The Nation reported that more than 150 kilometres of roads started under the previous administration had stalled in the county, with over 90km stuck since 2015. Kindiki described a programme covering about 515km of roads, which the paper put at Sh35 billion. The Star, reporting on the same event, said the government had set aside Sh6 billion to upgrade the 515km to bitumen standards. The two outlets did not explain the difference between the figures.

According to the Nation, Sh9 billion has already been released for roads in Tharaka Constituency alone. The 36km Chiakariga-Marimanti-Gatunga road is to be re-tarmacked, and the 30km Mioponi-Mukothima-Gatunga road is due for completion within three months. Work is also under way on the unfinished half of the Ng'ongo Hospital-Kamachege-Mitunguu-Marimanti road, first promised by President Mwai Kibaki about 18 years ago. Seven kilometres of roads will be built inside Tharaka University, and the new Thingithu Bridge is expected to be finished by Christmas.

The new Marimanti-Kibung'a-Mukuyuni road will link Tharaka and Imenti Central constituencies. "The contractor is under firm instructions to do the job without unnecessary delays," Kindiki said. "We have just started; this is just the start."

Power connections

Kindiki said only 11 per cent of households in Tharaka Constituency had electricity when President William Ruto took office in 2022, and that the figure had now risen to 40 per cent. He said some constituencies had reached between 70 and 90 per cent and he expected Tharaka to catch up within one to two years. The county has given land at Kanjuki for a substation, and he directed the Energy ministry to build it. Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira was told to prioritise the area.

Kindiki described Tharaka-Nithi as a region marginalised by successive governments. The event was attended by Tharaka MP Gitonga Murugara, Chuka/Igambang'ombe MP Patrick Munene, Woman Representative Susan Ngugi, Principal Secretaries Alex Wachira and Betsy Njagi, and local MCAs.

Photo: Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addresses residents in Marimanti, Tharaka-Nithi County, during the road launch (Nation Media Group).