Kiambu Governor Terminates Contract for Delayed Hospital ConstructionKiambu Governor Terminates Contract for Delayed Hospital Construction Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has announced the termination of a contract with a construction company responsible for the Bibirioni Level 4 Hospital project. The contractor has allegedly delayed the project’s completion since it was awarded in 2018. The 270-bed hospital, initially opened in 2018, stalled in construction in 2019. Despite receiving payment in 2022, the contractor failed to make significant progress, according to Wamatangi. The governor cited incompetence as the reason for the project’s delay compared to other hospital projects that resumed construction after receiving payment. He also highlighted concerns raised by the Accountant General’s report for the 2022/2023 financial year, which indicated that hospitals were receiving funding but not meeting project goals.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on Sunday announced that his government had terminated a contract with a contractor hired during the previous regime.
The contractor responsible for the construction of the Bibirioni Level 4 Hospital in Limuru has allegedly delayed the construction process since the contract was awarded in 2018.
The 270-bed Bibirioni Level Four Hospital was first opened in May 2018 by former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta but stalled in 2019.
The stalled Bibirioni Hospital in Limuru, Kiambu
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Governor Kimani Wamatangi
“Construction started in 2018 and was scheduled to be completed in 2020, but the contractor was unable to complete the project,” Wamatangi said.
According to Wamatangi, the contractor continued to delay the project even after receiving payment for the services in 2022.
“When I took office in 2022, I worked with other contractors working on various hospital projects that had stalled, to settle all their outstanding invoices and agree to have them return to the construction site,” he added.
But even after the contractor received the funds, the project was still far from being completed, with the Kiambu County government citing incompetence as the reason.
Furthermore, when comparing Bibirioni Hospital with other hospitals he revived in 2022, the governor stated that the contractor in question had not made any tangible progress, while the rest showed some progress.
“However, those working on other projects, particularly Rukuma and Thogoto, resumed and continued work, while the Bibirioni contractor continued at a slow pace,” Wamatangi said.
Furthermore, a report by the Accountant General for the 2022/2023 financial year revealed how hospitals were running aground despite drawing over 800 million Kenyan shillings in provincial funds.
In a charge sheet against former Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and his predecessor Ferdinand Waititu, Accountant General Nancy Gathungu, in her report published in April, raised concerns about the status of Bibirioni Level 4 Hospital, Tigoni Hospital, Lari Level 4 Hospital and Ruiru Level 4 Hospital.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi of Kiambu addresses residents of Regen area in Kinoo Ward, Kikuyu Sub-County after distributing household items on April 30, 2024
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Kimani Wamatangi
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