Editorials

EDITORIAL: Punish shoddy contractors

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Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Reports that the Lamu county government has abandoned its Sh220 million Mokowe headquarters less than a year after moving in is atrocious, especially given the reasons behind the move.

The building, which is less than three years old, is said to have leaky roofs that have consequently damaged the electrical wiring, making it a safety hazard.

Governor Fahim Twaha and his team are now forced to conduct meetings offsite for fear that the building could come down on them.  

Lamu is not alone. Shoddy construction works have sadly become the norm rather than the exception in most county projects. But that the Lamu County workers are vacating the building even before the smell of fresh paint has disappeared sets a new low. Besides the obvious wastage of taxpayers’ money, the incidence raises a lot of questions about the quality of regulation.

Even as the National Construction Authority engineers move in this week to assess safety in the building, the agency must take a fresh look at its regulatory role.

To bring an end to this laissez-faire attitude, it would help a great deal if the contractors are surcharged for any repair works besides being blacklisted. Hitting them where it hurts most is the best way to stem the haemorrhage of public funds.