Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has put contractors executing government projects on notice, warning that incompetence, delays and poor workmanship will no longer be tolerated as they risk undermining President William Ruto’s development agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Lusaka singled out the contractor undertaking the Misikhu Modern Market project, expressing concern over what he termed an unacceptably slow pace of work and urging the contractor to expedite construction and deliver the facility within the stipulated timelines.
The Governor made the remarks while addressing residents at Misikhu Market, shortly after inspecting the progress of the ongoing works at the modern market alongside Webuye East MP Martin Wanyinyi and Senator David Wakoli.
Lusaka said the slow implementation of public projects was increasingly exposing the Kenya Kwanza administration to public criticism, despite significant investments and development initiatives undertaken by President Ruto’s administration.
“We will not allow lazy contractors to derail President Ruto’s re-election because of incompetence and a slow pace of work execution,” Lusaka said.
He said contractors had a responsibility to ensure that projects commissioned by the government were completed on time, warning that delays were frustrating residents and creating the perception that the government was failing to deliver on its development promises.
Lusaka said the Misikhu Modern Market was expected to be completed within the agreed project timeline, but expressed concern that the pace of construction had fallen short of expectations.
He challenged the contractor to increase the pace of work and ensure the project is completed within the stipulated deadline, saying residents should not continue waiting for facilities intended to improve their livelihoods, support traders and stimulate local economic activity.
“President Ruto has done so much in terms of development, but one of the biggest challenges derailing the projects initiated under Kenya Kwanza is the incompetence and laxity of some contractors,” Lusaka said.
The Governor argued that the slow completion of projects was unfairly shifting public anger towards the President and the government when, in some cases, responsibility lay squarely with contractors charged with executing the projects.
He said contractors must therefore “shape up” and match government investment with timely and quality project delivery.
Lusaka maintained that the government would not allow poorly performing contractors to frustrate development programmes or complicate President Ruto’s political equation ahead of the 2027 elections.
He called on contractors executing government projects across Bungoma to adhere strictly to contractual obligations, accelerate stalled works and deliver projects that meet the expectations of residents.
“The public is complaining about incomplete projects, but in many cases the problem is not the President or the government. The problem is the contractor on site who is taking too long to complete the work,” he said.
The Governor said timely completion of public projects was critical to demonstrating the impact of government programmes and ensuring residents directly benefit from the development agenda.
He warned that contractors who continue exhibiting laxity, incompetence or unnecessary delays risk undermining public confidence in government programmes, insisting that those awarded public contracts must be held accountable for delivery.
“We must protect the President’s development agenda by ensuring that projects are completed on time. We cannot allow lazy contractors to complicate the President’s 2027 political equation,” Lusaka said.
During the Misikhu visit, Lusaka also presided over the official opening of Misikhu Police Station, as the leaders assessed development and security infrastructure in the area,underscoring the government’s investment in both economic infrastructure and security services for residents.
