Mombasa: Eastern Regional Commissioner (RC) Jacob Ouma Muganda has given a contractor a four-week ultimatum to start works at the Wote Modern Market and construction of hostels at Wote Technical Training Institute (WTTI) or risk unspecified dire consequences from the government. Muganda issued the directive in Wote town in Makueni Sub-county on Thursday during an inspection tour of various government projects being implemented in Makueni County.
According to Kenya News Agency, the administrator noted that the delay in initiating the projects was sabotaging President William Ruto’s core initiatives that he intends to commission by early next year. RC Muganda stressed that contractors should prioritize completing projects on schedule to avoid unnecessary extensions, which lead to increased costs.
Muganda warned, “In four weeks from today, if I find this confusion, the contractor will face dire consequences from the government. We cannot take things casually. There is a problem at the market and hostels. We are not here to joke but to ensure things are done in the right way. Projects that are at the core of the President and the government at large must be completed without fail.”
The Wote market construction is set to cost over Sh347 million, commenced on 7th April, 2026, and was to be completed in one year. Currently, 22 weeks out of 52 have elapsed, and the foundation is yet to be built, resulting in a delay. Traders relocated from the market are presently operating from a closed road within Wote town during the construction period.
Construction of hostels at WTTI was earmarked to cost over Sh143 million; although the site was handed over in October last year, works only commenced on 27th April 2026, and the foundation remains unlaid. “Work done is at 9 percent for the hostels, while progress for the market is only 10 percent,” Muganda noted.
Addressing concerns about the anticipated El Ni±o, the RC assured Wananchi in Makueni that the government has implemented measures and is sensitizing Wananchi on taking precautions during heavy rains, particularly in flood-prone areas. Planned measures include providing food and non-food items for potential displacement scenarios.
“This is an issue that involves the national and county governments. So, there are plans to ensure that transport, security, food, medicine, and other necessities are available as may be needed by Wananchi,” he said.
During the inspection tour of Makueni County, Muganda visited the affordable housing site, markets, and construction of hostels in Wote and Makindu towns. The entourage also inspected the tarmacking of Emali-Ukia Road and the Mikiyu bridge. The RC was accompanied by the Eastern Region Security Committee members, Eastern Region Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Director Mr. Duncan Mwariri and his Lower Eastern counterpart Loice Shuma, Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Khalif Abdullahi and his security team, and other national government departmental heads.
