The government has issued a stern warning to contractors who overextend themselves by taking on more public projects than they can effectively deliver, citing inefficiency and risk of stalling critical development programs.

Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency, Eliud Owalo, cautioned that some contractors are bidding for multiple government projects without the technical capacity to execute them.

“We are witnessing a worrying trend where some contractors are biting off more than they can chew. They aggressively pursue numerous tenders, quote unrealistically low prices to win bids, and ultimately struggle to deliver,” said Owalo.

He emphasized that such practices compromise service delivery and delay government-funded initiatives.

“We will not allow public resources to be tied up in non-performing contracts. Any contractor who consistently under delivers due to overstretching their capacity will be recommended for blacklisting.”

The warning signals a renewed government commitment to efficiency and accountability in project implementation, as it seeks to streamline service delivery and ensure value for taxpayer money.

Owalo spoke during a week-long project inspection and verification drive in Kisii and Nyamira counties to ensure timely completion and delivery of national development projects.

The exercise brought together officers from the Government Delivery Unit (GDU), senior engineers, county administrators, and security officials to evaluate the actual progress of government-funded projects on the ground.

The inspection commenced in Kisii County, where key infrastructure and service delivery projects were reviewed. These included the Kisii By-Pass Phase II, currently 32% complete, aimed at enhancing inter-county connectivity between Kisii and Nyamira counties at Kegati-Omogonchoro. The Ksh.847 million project will facilitate trade by providing easy access to social amenities.

The Nyanchwa Affordable Housing project that comprises 189 units is at 21 at a cost of Ksh.475 million, while the Nyaribari Masaba Affordable Housing Project will host 240 units at a cost of Ksh.723 million. The construction is ongoing at 13% completion.

Notable progress was observed in the testing phase of the Kiamokama Cold Storage Facility, and the nearly completed Nyacheki-Riokabeni-Nyamache Box Culvert, which will ease access to institutions such as Nyamache Level 4 Hospital.

Additional inspections included the 75km Bomachage Chache Roads that are being implemented by KeRRA at a cost of Ksh.3.5 billion. Construction is ongoing at 77.5% completion.

The 9.7 km Nyasembe-Etago-Kenyenya Roads that are being upgraded to bitumen standards at a cost of Ksh. 759 million are fully complete, while the 15 km Riosiri-Ikoba & Gotichaki Loop Roads that cost Ksh.740.2 million stand at 65% completion.

Modernization efforts were also evident in the Etago ESP Market (34% complete), which features an ICT hub and a mother’s room, while Kisii University’s Ksh. 527 million new lecture theatre is nearing completion at 94%. There are two more projects within the institution that are funded by the government – the ICT Centre and Tuition block. The State Department for Housing is in the process of procuring a contractor for construction of a hostel with 1,720 units.

The inspection team further evaluated the Kisii Land Registry’s ongoing digitization efforts and the Nyanchwa Affordable Housing Project, currently 21% complete with provisions for 189 housing units. Road upgrades in Kitutu Chache North (25% complete) and the 6% complete Kisii Cancer Centre, which has experienced delays due to contractor capacity, were also examined.

The president inspected the project in January and was not impressed by progress.

Speaking in Kisii County, Owalo emphasized the need for transparency amidst conflicting information regarding the status of projects as stated by some contractors and actual progress on the ground. The Deputy Chief of Staff insisted that what is in official records must be consistent with the physical evidence at the project sites.

In Nyamira County, the team began by meeting with County Commissioner Erastus Mbui and other key national and county officials before embarking on a rigorous verification mission.

Among the flagship infrastructure visited was the fully completed 12.3km Kebirigo–Gesima–Mosobeti–Metamaywa Road by KeNHA, which has significantly boosted transport efficiency in the region.

The team then inspected the 98% complete Nyansiongo Modern Market, a Ksh.195 million project that will enhance trade and positively impact local livelihoods.

Significant attention was given to the 60.1km Borabu Roads upgrade by KeRRA, which is now 16.9% complete with 6 km tarmacked, having been launched in August 2024 when no tarmac had yet been laid. The roads project will cost Ksh.3.4 billion.

The roads are expected to improve security and economic activity.

At Keroka Level IV Hospital, officials reviewed the new 115-bed inpatient block, maternity ward, and accident and emergency complex. The hospital, which is now 98% complete, was also subject to follow-up on Presidential Directives, including the construction of a perimeter wall.

The team further assessed the Gekano–Nyangori–Rigoma–Moturmesi–Birongo Road, a 33.3km corridor being upgraded to bitumen standards at a cost of Ksh.1.3 billion and is at 30% completion.

The road project will facilitate farmers and business persons by enabling the efficient movement of goods as well as improve access to schools, hospitals, and government services.

Similarly, the Kemera–Kiendege–Gachuba–Keumbu roads upgrade, valued at Ksh.577 million, is expected to enhance movement and commerce in the region.

Educational development was another focal point, with inspections at institutions like Kineni ELCK Secondary School, where a Ksh.29.6 million upgrade project involving dormitories, staff housing, and sanitation blocks is progressing steadily and slated for completion in July 2025. Multiple other school infrastructure projects across Nyamira, totaling Ksh.1.4 billion, were also reviewed.

The total beneficiary schools are 68, including 44 primary schools and 24 secondary schools.

The delegation concluded their inspection at the Nyamira County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Sironga. A strategic agro-industrial initiative co-funded by the county and the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, the Ksh.750 million facility (currently at 30% completion) includes four aggregation warehouses and four value addition warehouses.

Despite earlier delays due to adverse weather, construction is back on track with the contractor active on site.

This expansive oversight initiative underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to accelerating the delivery of public goods and services with transparency, efficiency, and accountability.

The inspection reinforced the resolve to align project records with real-time progress, enhancing public confidence in the government’s performance and delivery agenda.