Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has warned contractors who delay or abandon government projects after receiving public funds that they risk losing their contracts, being blacklisted and facing criminal prosecution.
Speaking on Friday during his development tour of Kigumo and Kandara constituencies in Murang’a County, Prof Kindiki said the Government would recover money paid to contractors who failed to deliver.
“I want to put on notice contractors delaying the delivery of key infrastructure projects who are wasting taxpayers’ time and money,” he said, warning that those paid but failing to deliver could face prosecution for obtaining money by false pretences.
Prof Kindiki said the clearance of pending bills owed to contractors had paved the way for stalled projects to resume.
He added that the Government had secured Sh177 billion to facilitate the completion of projects across the country, including the Mau Mau roads.
Accompanied by Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and several elected leaders, the DP urged Murang’a leaders to remain steadfast in supporting President William Ruto’s administration despite criticism from opposition politicians.
He accused opposition leaders of insulting MPs, including Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, for lobbying the Government to fund development programmes in the county.
Some elected leaders, he said, had become apprehensive amid threats that they would lose their seats in next year’s elections.
Prof Kindiki urged politicians to abandon divisive rhetoric, insults and violence, arguing that leaders should campaign on their development records rather than confrontational politics. On illicit alcohol, he warned manufacturers and traders involved in producing and distributing illegal brews that they would face the full force of the law.
Turning to the tea sector, he said the Government was considering a minimum guaranteed return for farmers amid persistent complaints about low earnings. He did not provide details of the proposed arrangement.
The DP also urged residents in landslide- and flood-prone areas to heed government advisories and take precautions ahead of the expected El Niño rains.
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