GARISSA-MODIKAAREY ROAD CORRUPTION: PM ORDERS INVESTIGATION

GARISSA-MODIKAAREY ROAD CORRUPTION: PM ORDERS INVESTIGATION

via KENYA-SOMALIS.....

The Government has ordered a probe into the stalled construction of the Garissa-Modika-Nuno road after the contractor was paid Sh748 million. Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the Government could have lost the money and directed Roads Minister Franklin Bett to investigate engineers and the contractor to establish how the money was used to construct only 9.6km of the 20km road. Saying this was a glaring case of impropriety, Raila wondered how the contractor could use Sh70 million to build only one kilometre.

"I want investigations to be instituted immediately and a report brought to me in two weeks," he said.

Raila was addressing a public rally yesterday at Garissa Primary School on his second day tour of development projects in Garissa District. The PM said at the rate of Sh70 million per kilometre, it will take eternity and a huge amount of money to finish the project. He further directed the ministry to allocate Sh150 million for the construction of roads in Garissa town, saying the Government would like to fast track development in North Eastern Province to bring it to the same level of development with the rest of the country.

Raila said it was unfortunate previous governments had stopped issuance of title deeds to wananchi in the area. He directed the Ministry of Lands to issue the documents to enable land owners use them as collateral to borrow money from banks. The Prime Minister decried clannism in the province, saying it was a major drawback to development.

He told parents to take their children to school irrespective of gender, saying all Kenyan youth must be given equal opportunities.

The meeting was also addressed by Cabinet ministers Mohammed Yusuf Haji, Mohammed Elmi and Otieno Kajwang' and assistant ministers Aden Duale and Charles Keter and nominated MP Sofia Abdi Noor.