On September 6, Mtaa Wangu highlighted the struggles faced by residents of Barut as they navigate the Ndarugu-Soimet bridge.

This was after receiving reports of the bridge becoming impassable after heavy rains had rocked the area.

The situation was so dire that residents decided to construct their own bridge.

During our investigations, both the County and National governments passed the blame to each other, with neither wanting to own the project.

A cyclist trying to navigate his way through the Soimet-Ndarugu bridge.

Photo credit: Bret Sanya/Mtaa Wangu

In a similar occurrence on October 19, Mtaa Wangu published a two-part story detailing the dilapidated state of the Sh. 47-million market located in London.

When we reached out to Nakuru Town West Member of Parliament Samuel Arama and County Trade, Executive, Stephen Kuria, seeking to understand who was supposed to see the project through to completion, each pointed a finger at the other.

A section of the iron sheets that make up the roof of London market have been vandalised.

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/MTAA WANGU

Another project that has been abandoned due to the discord between the county and national governments is the multi-million trauma centre at the Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital.

It has now been 14 years since the centre, then proposed by the late former President Mwai Kibaki, stalled.

An article from Nation.Africa dated January 20, 2019 revealed that by the time the project was halted, Sh. 70 million had already been spent.

The trauma centre was designed specifically to save the lives of road accident victims, particularly along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, notorious for the Sobea-Salgaa-Sachagwan black spot that has claimed numerous lives.

Upon inquiry, the then Medical Superintendent, James Mburu, stated that construction began in 2012 but was interrupted with the advent of devolution.

In his response, former County Executive for Health, Dr. Zachary Gichuki, mentioned that the county government is eager to ensure the national government completes the project.

“The project is a national initiative, but the county will follow up to ensure its construction is finalized,” Mr. Gichuki said then. To date, the project remains incomplete.

Mtaa Wangu spoke to good governance expert Laban Omusundi on this issue.

According to him, the constitution is clear on the functions of the national and county government.

“Schedule 4 of the constitution clearly outlines the functions of both National and County governments. While there is a provision for collaboration, there is always an accountable officer for each project, who should not evade their responsibilities,” he says.

Laban emphasizes that should projects remain incomplete, the ultimate victims are taxpayers who depend on these projects for support, citing the trauma centre, which could have helped many, and the Soimet-Ndarugu bridge, where residents risk their lives daily trying to cross river Ndarugu.

In conclusion, he advocates for the use of diplomacy to address issues related to stalled and incomplete projects.

“Both the national and county governments face their own challenges. We should first seek to understand the other side’s perspective. If we remain unsatisfied after that, then we can consider legal action to hold duty bearers accountable,” he adds.

How lack of coordination between county and national governments results to stalled projects

Author Spotlight

Bret Sanya