Raila defends influx of Chinese road builders

Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrives in Gigiri on May 26, 2011 where he attended a United Nation security council meeting. Photo/PMPS

By JOHN NGIRACHU jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, May 26 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• Premier concurs with legislators that rogue companies had fleeced taxpayers of millions for shoddy workmanship

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has defended the massive presence of Chinese road contractors in Kenya, saying, they are here to fill the vacuum left by rogue contractors.

Mr Odinga said the government has for long been held to ransom by local “cowboy contractors”.

He said rogue contractors established cartels during the Moi regime and succeeded in ripping off the government and defrauding taxpayers.

Mr Odinga spoke during debate on a Bill that seeks to establish the National Construction Authority to oversee the building sector.

He said that while the first regime of President Jomo Kenyatta had promoted local contractors, the second one promoted illegal commission agents and cowboy contractors.

He said the establishment of the authority would help get rid of rogue contractors and promote professionals.

Public Works assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri said local contractors had taken advantage of lack of proper regulation in the construction industry to make super profits and fleece taxpayers.

He cited a company that currently has eight contracts with the Roads and Water ministries, but has made poor progress on all.

Sirisia MP Moses Wetang’ula said the government, the public and local authorities had been helpless in the face of reckless contractors.

He gave an example in his constituency, where a company had once claimed to have bought a jembe (hoe) worth Sh89 at Sh600.

He said the proposed National Construction Authority would also need to look at procurement procedures to ensure rogue contractors do not steal from the government.

Nominated MP Mohammed Affey suggested that the new authority offices be located in all 47 counties and be funded adequately to carry out its work.

Matungu MP David Were told MPs he had suffered at the hands of an unqualified contractor, as his residential house collapsed when it was built half-way.

Public Works minister Chris Obure said the enactment of the Bill would provide for education, research, training and standardisation of the construction process.

The Bill now moves to the committee stage after it went through the Second Reading on Thursday.