A Parliamentary committee has called for investigations into the alleged inflation of the cost of construction of the new Githurai market in Kiambu county by about Sh200 million.
The National Assembly departmental committee on housing, urban planning, and public works expressed objections with the cost of the market which it accused the State Department of Housing and Urban Development of inflating.
The committee chaired by Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno, gave the directive during a meeting with housing and urban development principal secretary, Charles Hinga.
The team had summoned the PS to explain the alteration of the project cost from the initial Sh827.170 million to Sh1.026 billion.
“The variation in terms of costs is quite significant. You recently advertised the construction of 60 markets, and we are concerned that their costs may also be inflated. What justified the review of the costs?” said Ngeno.
In response, PS Hinga said that the increase in the construction cost of the modern market, featuring five storeys, was due to the adjustments in the scope of work and design modifications done during the implementation of the project.
“As the project progressed, there were adaptations in the scope of work and design, leading to a review of costs,” said PS Hinga.
Hinga said that the changes were essential in enhancing the functionality, structural integrity, and visual appeal of the project, which was initiated in October 2019.
Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri and his Nyaribari Masaba counterpart Daniel Manduku, however, expressed reservations with the way the contract was awarded, arguing that the process was not done in line with established professional procedures.
“The project site was a market with nearly 11,000 traders. Our officers encountered challenges in conducting site visits as expected due to the hostile environment,” PS Hinga said, adding that the project was initiated based on a directive from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ngeno asked the State Department to provide the committee with the original bill of quantities, drawings, designs, and other pertinent documents related to the project.
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