Shame of Nakuru projects collapsing days to handover

A group of contractors who are taking shortcuts to maximise profits are to blame for the collapse of two key projects days to their handing over to the county government. 

The projects, a public toilet that was hurriedly constructed at Kabatini Ward Administrator’s office, and a water tank in the neighbouring Bahati Ward in Nakuru County, gobbled up more than Sh3 million. 

According to Kabatini MCA Peter Macharia, the toilet was constructed within three days, compromising its structural integrity. 

“The toilet was constructed hurriedly. The walls and roof were on a wet foundation that was yet to harden for it to sustain the weight in three days. The entire structure sunk on the fourth day,” said Macharia.

He added that preliminary investigations indicate the contractor did not adhere to the quality of work as stipulated in the project’s Bill of Quantity.

“After the toilet sunk we observed that the stones were loosely attached to each other. This was mainly due to use of less cement as opposed to its ratio with sand for a larger profit margin,” said Macharia.

The toilet with four partitions collapsed on Thursday morning, minutes before the workers arrived hoping to complete it.

“On Thursday, the workers had arrived to fix the four doors and all were set to hand over the complete toilet on Friday. It is by luck the workers arrived late as they would have been killed or injured in it,” he added.

The MCA, however, defended the cost of the project even as the residents claimed that it had been inflated.

“The cost was as per the quality of work and size of the toilet that we expected to be done. The BQ for the project had set the cost at Sh1.5 million,” said Macharia.

The ward rep lashed out at the contractors who are said to have been in a rush to get payments for the projects by yesterday, before closure of the government’s electronic procurement system.

“The Integrated Financial Management Information System was set to be locked by close of day on Monday. This made them to speed up the process. Once locked, they would have received payments in September in the next financial year,” said Macharia.

He further took issue with the county’s procurement process, which he said was flawed, allowing for unreliable contractors to undertake public projects.

“All these problems are due to centralisation of county’s procurement offices. This has allowed for tenders to be issued to cronies whose records in delivery of projects can’t be verified,” said Macharia.

According to impeccable sources, the contractor undertaking the water tank project is a former MCA while the one undertaking the toilet project is a close ally to a senior county official.

Three days later, Bahati Ward residents woke up to heartbreaking news that a Sh1.7 million water tank meant to supply more than 1,000 households with clean water had collapsed days before being handed over.

Area MCA Peter Ndonyo accused the contractor of undertaking the project carelessly leading to its collapse.

“The tank walls were yet to dry. The top slab was still being supported by timber pieces from inside. It was expected that water, a quarter of its capacity, would be pumped into the tank and allowed to dry for 21 days. It would then be added to half the capacity and assessed after another 21 days,” said Ndonyo.

He further explained that the sub-county engineer was at the site on Wednesday afternoon and gave instructions on how much water should be pumped in. Instead, he said, the contractor continuously pumped in water for five hours, nearly filling it.”

He added that it took three days before its walls were compromised releasing over 90,000 litres of water. According to Water and Environment Executive Festus Ng’eno, the projects were poorly done leading to their collapse.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the contractors did not follow proper engineering protocols on construction as given by the department. Works on the projects have been suspended,” said Ng’eno.

He added: “We wish to inform the public that no money has been lost. Money shall only be paid for projects that have been completed and inspected.”