Sh59 million Gikomba fire station project in limbo

Traders at Gikomba Market are still waiting for a fire station that was supposed to protect them from the frequent infernos that have devastated their businesses for years.

The Nairobi City County awarded the construction contract in April last year at a cost of Sh59,983,103, but to date, the project has not taken off.

An audit report for the 2023/24 financial year by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has revealed glaring gaps in the project’s implementation.

Although Sh30,024,578 has already been paid to the contractor, the audit could not verify what work had been done, as there was no accompanying technical report.

“The inspection and acceptance certificate number 1 dated 28 June 2024 for Sh30,024,578 was not supported with a technical report that detailed the work completed, including the remaining works, which would allow for a comparison against the contract completion period,” she stated.

The report further reveals that no documentation exists to prove the project’s completion, raising questions about whether the allocated funds were used as intended.

“There was also no evidence to confirm that the project was completed despite the lapse of the contract period. In the circumstances, the value for money and regularity of expenditure of Sh59,983,163 could not be confirmed,” Gathungu said.

Beyond the financial concerns, the audit also uncovered irregularities in how the contract was awarded.

The same five-member team that handled the tender opening was also in charge of the evaluation, which goes against procurement regulations requiring an independent evaluation committee.

“The tender opening committee was comprised of five (5) members; the same members also served on the tender evaluation committee, which is against the law that requires the procuring authority to establish an ad hoc tender evaluation committee,” Gathungu noted in her report.

Despite its necessity, the fire station project has also faced resistance from traders who fear it will displace them.

When the contract was signed, many expressed concerns that their stalls would be demolished, though they were assured that only a 100-by-100-square-foot area would be used for construction. Still, without any visible progress, their uncertainty grows.

With no fire station in place, traders continue to operate in fear of yet another disaster, while the unanswered questions surrounding the use of public funds deepen their frustration.

The project, which was intended to provide relief, has instead left them in limbo as they struggle with the ever-present threat of fires.