MPs Summons CS Chirchir Over infrastructure and funding Disparities

The David Pkosing-led Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has summoned Cabinet Secretary for Roads Mr. Davis Chirchir to appear before the committee next Tuesday, 𝟐𝟐 October.

Pkosing (South Pokot) is seeking clarity on various issues impacting road infrastructure across the country.

Speaking during a session on Tuesday at Parliament Buildings while examining the audited accounts of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for the Financial Years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 with officials from the agency led by Director General Silas Kinoti.

The Committee Chairperson emphasized the importance of the CS’s appearance alongside officials from the Kenya Roads Board for a one-hour session focused on key policy matters.

During the meeting, Pkosing stressed the need for transparency, urging the Cabinet Secretary to present a breakdown of road allocations per constituency saying that the issue extends beyond the current discussion.

“We cannot conduct an audit without addressing other pressing issues raised by Members. Every Member should be present to voice their concerns to the Cabinet Secretary,” he stated.

The South Pokot legislator criticized the current Budget Committee, recalling past experiences with its lack of integrity.

“This is the worst Committee I have encountered in Parliament, I remember during the eleventh parliament we disbanded the then Budget Committee due to integrity issues,” he remarked.

Hon Adan Keynan remarked ‘’ It’s not going to be business as usual, very soon will be listing those CEOs who have presiding over the abuse of office and I’m willing to do this, please go back to your books”

He added “How you have used what has been allocated, please let’s get a fair share of what is allocated “

On roads, KURA is mandated to construct Director General Silas Kinoti said, “We don’t do all municipalities, we do where we have classified urban roads and there is a formula of the classification roads”

Pkosing however said that there were serious issues to be clarified by the CS in all the road agencies before proceeding with agency audits.

He noted the need to involve additional agencies, including the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), to ensure a thorough examination of pending bills and funding sources.

“We must address serious queries before auditing these agencies,” he added.

Pkosng directed that a formal invitation be issued to the CS, ensuring his attendance.

Pkosing sought clarity on the classification of National Urban Roads and their funding allocations, highlighting potential disparities in road distribution between KURA and KeRRA.

He called for comprehensive statistics on all roads in the country, including a map illustrating their distribution.

Responding to the Nairobi Outering Road Improvement Project the Auditor general report indicated that the Tassia road section, had open drainages clogged with garbage and overgrown vegetation despite the fact that a firm had been contracted to regularly maintain drains along the road.

Kinoti replied, ‘’In Nairobi, we have partnered with the County and we only do cleaning and there is a tendency of dumping and the experience we have in Outering is that when the contractor is collecting garbage others do dump as the contractor is working.’’

The DG added that pending bills have affected the running of activities which has delayed work as the action has led contractors to terminate services because of changes in the prices of materials designated for the projects.

The Committee chair however condemned the pending bills which have crippled the services in KURA empathizing with the DG, Silas Kinoti.