Contractor in rush to finish job at Ronald Ngala college

 

A contractor is rushing to beat the July deadline for the completion of the -billion Ronald Ngala Utalii University College in Kilifi county.

 Despite the ongoing investigations and prosecutions over corruption allegations, a spot check on Saturday found machinery on site as workers rush to complete the project.

 Former Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and his former Principal Secretary, Ms Leah Gwiyo, face graft charges over the Sh10.4 billion project.

 The two and fifteen others allegedly inflated the cost from Sh1.95 billion to Sh10.4 billion and paid a consultancy firm Sh4 billion for services not rendered.  They have since denied the charges before a Malindi Chief Magistrate and released on a cash bail. A visit to the project reveals that the works are going well despite the assertion by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak that the project has stalled.

“Right now, if you go to that site, it’s a very sad story. You have a very big construction but it’s stuck. This is one of a sad story of this country where a big grand project has stalled because of corruption," Twalib told a local TV station last week.

 However, at the site, journalists found earth-moving machines roaring as the contractor races against the deadline to complete the first phase in July despite the controversy. The project is based on 59 acres of land in Vipingo, that was donated by Rea Vipingo company for public use.

 The Phase 1 to be completed in July are Administration Block, two tuition Blocks, kitchen/dining/training block, Library, student centre, multi-purpose hall with 1500 capacity, two hostel

Geoffrey Mosoku