NAIROBI,Kenya Sep 23 – Members of the National Assembly Transport and Infrastructure Committee have demanded answers from the Kenya Ports Authority over the Sh8.3 billion cost of a 1.8-kilometre road project at the Port of Mombasa.

📻 Breaking It Down

The MPs questioned KPA officials on Tuesday over what they termed the unusually high cost of the project, with the committee chairman, Ndia MP George Kariuki, saying Parliament would seek a special audit to establish whether taxpayers were getting value for money.

The committee raised the concerns during an inspection of KPA headquarters and port facilities in Mombasa, where officials were questioned about the scope, procurement and financing of the project.

Acting KPA managing director Fredrick Oyugi and the authority’s chief engineer, Mr Nyaga, were asked to explain why the project had been allocated billions of shillings despite covering a relatively short stretch.

📌 What You Need to Know

“We have seen wastage of public resources in this country, and that is part of the reason we are here. You are spending Sh8 billion on a 1.8-kilometre road while our youth are suffering out there it is unacceptable. As a committee, we will be asking for a special audit of this road to establish the facts,” he added.

Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang’ turned the spotlight to the legal framework under which KPA committed its internal revenues to the project.

“From which legal authority did you get the mandate to spend internal revenue without engaging the National Treasury and the National Assembly? You are just administrators here. We want you to contextualise this decision within the Constitution,” he said.

KPA officials said the project should not be viewed as an ordinary road construction venture, arguing that it is a complex port transport infrastructure project designed to address traffic conflicts and improve the movement of cargo.

The development involves widening the Port Road from the Gantry Workshop towards Gates 18 and 20 and is intended to divert traffic away from the container terminal. KPA documents list the contract value at Sh8.344 billion.

The project includes a 1.8-kilometre dual carriageway, of which about 704 metres will be an elevated viaduct supported by bored piles and reinforced concrete structures. The viaduct is designed to rise to about 15 metres above ground level in some sections.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya