Construction works on the Sh 400million Tharaka Nithi County Headquarters has stalled. Governor Muthomi Njuki confirmed the report and said that the project has stalled once again due to lack of funds.
The building located in Kathwana is one of the five counties headquarters offices being funded jointly by the national government (80%) and the devolved units (20%). The governor explained that the government was yet to fulfil its 80% funding pledge towards the construction causing the delays.
“The national government has continued to frustrate the contractor by failing to pay money for work done compelling the contractor to stop the work,” said Governor Njuki.
Work on the five-storey building that started on June 3, 2015 was to be completed in three years. For the work to proceed, Terracraft Kenya Limited, the projectโs contractor has listed a number of demands. They are demanding that money for the contract be ring-fenced in the budget as an assurance that funding for the project will not be interrupted.
Contract extension application
The contractor, Terracraft Kenya Limited, is also demanding that money for the contract be ring-fenced in the budget as an assurance that funding for the project will not be interrupted and also seeking approval of contract extension application up to January 2022.
The contractor is also demanding payment of money for the extended preliminaries, variations and revision of rates. Remaining works on the project include roofing, fixing of windows and doors, partitioning of rooms, general finishing and civil works.
Delays of the works has also compelled some officers who are supposed to operate from headquarters Kathwana to remain in offices in Chuka, over 30 kilometres away. County staff are currently operating from makeshift offices. The county government also incurs huge expense renting office space in Kathwana.
