CS Chirchir Given 9-Day Ultimatum Over Ksh1.96 Billion Road Project

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has been given until October 30 to explain the delayed completion, funding, tendering and quality of works on the Musikoma-Buyofu-Mungatsi-Myanga-Mateka Road project, which has an existing contract value of Ksh1.961 billion.

In a letter addressed to Chirchir, the Office of the Clerk of the Senate said the demand follows a request for a statement by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah during a Senate sitting on October 7.

"Pursuant to this provision, at the Sitting of the Senate held on Wednesday, 7th October, 2026, Andrew Omtatah, MP requested for a Statement from the Committee regarding delayed completion, funding, tendering and quality of works on the Musikoma-Buyofu-Mungatsi-Myanga-Mateka Road (Road Works Contract 115)," the letter read.

According to the letter, the committee wants Chirchir to provide a complete chronology of the contract, from procurement and award to date, including the original commencement and completion dates, all extensions granted and the reasons behind them. 

It also wants the current completion date and an explanation for why the road remains unfinished about eight years after its original deadline.

Chirchir is also expected to provide the original tender documents, contracts, bills of quantities, award decision and all variations or addenda. 

The committee wants clarification on the current status of the contract, including whether it has been terminated, suspended, extended or re-scoped.

The Senate is further seeking a breakdown of all funds appropriated, released, committed, certified and paid towards the project since its inception. 

The records should include interim payment certificates and be reconciled with the physical progress achieved on the ground.

Another key concern is the procurement of a new contract for the completion of the road. 

The committee wants the legal, financial and technical justification for the 2026 tender, identified as Road Works Contract 1066, for the completion of phase two of Road Works Contract 115, despite the original project having an existing contract value of Ksh1.961 billion.

The committee has also called for an independent engineering audit to establish whether the completed sections meet the required construction standards. 

The audit is expected to examine pavement thickness, material sources, laboratory results, aggregate and bitumen quality, compaction, drainage, base and sub-base construction, and compliance with approved specifications.

It also wants the government to identify the officials who certified the works as satisfactory despite visible deterioration.

On accountability for defective works, the committee is seeking details of inspections conducted before completed sections were accepted, the applicable defects liability terms and whether the contractor was formally notified of the defects.

Chirchir is also expected to clarify whether final payments, retention money or performance security remain available to compel the contractor to undertake the necessary repairs.

The committee further wants the government to outline measures being taken to ensure the road is completed within defined timelines and meets the required engineering standards without exposing taxpayers to unjustified additional costs.

"This is to request your office to provide a comprehensive response to the Committee on or before Friday, 30th October, 2026," the letter added.

This comes weeks after Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian urged the Senate to investigate how stolen livestock is finding its way into recognised markets, transport networks and slaughterhouses.

Speaking on Tuesday, October 13, the senator asked the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to establish how animals stolen from farmers and pastoralists are introduced into legitimate commercial supply chains, despite existing requirements for ownership verification and livestock movement permits.

"Livestock theft should not be allowed to become a commercial enterprise. We need to establish how stolen animals are finding their way into formal markets and slaughter facilities and whether the existing traceability systems are capable of identifying their true origin and ownership," she said.

Lemaletian's request comes amid concerns that gaps in livestock traceability and market regulation could allow individuals involved in livestock rustling to sell stolen animals through formal business channels without being detected.

She wants the committee to examine whether livestock traceability systems and market surveillance measures are effective in preventing stolen animals from reaching regulated slaughter facilities. 

Lemaletian also wants to know whether animals delivered to these facilities are routinely checked against records and reports of stolen livestock.

She has further called for scrutiny of compliance with livestock movement permits and other documentation requirements.