By Dorothy Musyoka
Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro has terminated contracts for all stalled county projects, blaming prolonged delays by contractors, and unveiled a new model that will see projects implemented through direct community participation.
Speaking to the media at his residence in Kilifi town, the Governor said the decision is aimed at addressing rising pending bills and curbing wastage of public funds tied to incomplete or abandoned projects.
“We have terminated contracts for projects that have stalled because contractors have taken too long to implement them,” Mung’aro said.
He noted that small-scale projects including the construction of ECDE classrooms, technical colleges, dispensaries, wells, and even the organisation of county events will now be handled by local residents’ committees.
“Small contracts such as construction of ECDE classrooms, technical colleges, dispensaries, wells and even organisation of county events will now be handled by local committees,” he added.
Under the new framework, funds will be disbursed directly to project sites, with community members tasked with supervising and overseeing implementation.
“This approach allows wananchi to monitor projects in their areas, reduce inefficiencies by contractors, and stop the loss of public money through abandoned works,” he added.
The Governor also announced the appointment of Alice Kinywa to chair a special committee mandated to investigate and verify pending debts owed by the Kilifi County Government.
According to Mung’aro, the committee will scrutinise all claims and make recommendations on the county’s debt status to enhance accountability and transparency in financial management.
The committee has been given 40 days to complete its investigation. During this period, the Governor directed that no payments be made to any contractor until the verification process is concluded.
“No payments will be made to contractors until the committee concludes its work. We must first establish the legitimacy of the claims,” he said.
Mung’aro expressed confidence that the new measures will fast-track project completion, promote local ownership, create employment opportunities, ensure economic benefits remain within communities, and strengthen transparency and accountability in county operations.