Construction of the Dr Ida Odinga Library, Research, Innovation and Resource Centre in Homa Bay County is set to delay following a stalemate between the contractor and Kenya Power.
The multi-million-shilling project launched by Dr Ida Odinga is under construction at Ogande Girls High School in Homa Bay Town Constituency and is expected to cost over Sh 300million. The project started in December last year after a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangโi, his education counterpart Prof George Magoha and Dr Ida.
The project aims at establishing a library with a capacity of 500 students, an amphitheatre that can accommodate 1,000 people, an ICT hub and a creative centre with a recording studio. Construction of the resource centre was expected to take 18 months, from December 21 when the groundbreaking ceremony took place. The local NG-CDF contributed Sh50 million towards the project.
Cause of delay
Its foundation is complete but the construction cannot go on because of electricity cables hang over the site. The electricity lines supply power to Suneka town in Kisii County from Homa Bay town. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma who toured the project accused Kenya Power of failing to move the electricity cables.
โThe contractor has told me he asked Kenya Power to relocate the power lines but the organisation has not done so. The company should move with speed and relocate the power lines. Electric cables hang above the site hence the work cannot continue,โ said Kaluma.
โThe stalemate must be resolved. We want to see the project completed as planned delay in implementation of a project has financial implications hence this matter must be handled with the seriousness it deserves,โ Kaluma added.
Homa Bay County Kenya Power Manager Ken Okumbe on his part said his office is aware of the stalemate and has given the contractor a quotation of the fee he is supposed to pay to facilitate the relocation of the power lines.
โIt is true they reported the matter to our office. We gave them the quotation for rerouting the power line but they have not paid,โ said Okumbe.
