Editorials

EDITORIAL: Lessons from road project

ouko

Auditor-General Edward Ouko. file photo | nmg

It must have come as a surprise to many Kenyans that the Sh14 billion Outer Ring Road project got a rare thumbs-up from the Auditor-General.

Edward Ouko says the cash was spent according to the financing agreement, the works done efficiently and that work on the 13-kilometre road is headed for completion in time.

This is uncharacteristic of many local mega projects that are marred by delays, usually brought about by tedious litigation or bureaucracy that end up inflating costs to the tune of billions of shillings.

Wastage of public funds being among Kenya’s biggest challenges today, it is imperative that those involved in the execution of infrastructure projects keenly study the Outer Ring Road model.

It could be the key to dismantling corruption networks that thrive in big ticket projects and in so doing ensure more money goes into development.

It may even detoxify our politics because if people thought they would get value for the taxes they pay through equitable development, the divisive cut-throat competition for high office would start to ease.