By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 5 December 2025 - The government has taken a hardline stance against a major Chinese construction firm, signaling a potential shake-up in how national infrastructure projects are managed and contractors held accountable.
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government Efficiency, Eliud Owalo, has summoned the China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation over chronic delays on key road projects in Bomet County, warning that failure to immediately improve performance could result in debarment from future national contracts.
Owalo’s intervention comes amid growing frustration among local communities over stalled and substandard roads, reflecting broader concerns about the efficiency and quality of government-backed infrastructure projects.
During a site visit on Thursday, Owalo expressed clear dissatisfaction with the progress on two major roads, highlighting the Silibwet-Merigi-Chemaner-Longisa Road, a KSh 2.8 billion project, which has languished at just 20% completion despite a revival under a Presidential Directive in August 2025.
The Longisa-Sigor-Kyogong Road, similarly revived in March 2024, has only reached 26 percent completion.
Both projects, implemented by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), were intended to improve connectivity and stimulate development in the region, but persistent delays have left communities underserved and frustrated.
According to Owalo, the government is particularly concerned that the contractor has not strengthened its capacity in terms of manpower and equipment, as previously instructed.
The Deputy Chief of Staff’s statements underscore that the government is unwilling to tolerate repeated underperformance, especially when it undermines public confidence and development objectives.
“We are not convinced that the contractor has done that, and we have cautioned the contractor to up his game,” Owalo said, signaling a no-nonsense approach to accountability.
The firm in question is reportedly managing around 11 road projects across the country, raising questions about the rationale for awarding multiple contracts to a single contractor with a record of delays.
Owalo highlighted the risks of spreading a contractor too thin, noting that the persistent underperformance across various projects points to systemic issues that cannot be ignored.
His comments suggest a more rigorous evaluation of contractor capacity and performance is imminent, with an emphasis on ensuring that resources and timelines translate into tangible progress on the ground.
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The warning issued by Owalo is notable for its potential political and operational implications.
By threatening debarment, the government is setting a precedent that underperformance will carry severe consequences, including the loss of eligibility for future national contracts.
Such measures could have a ripple effect across the construction sector, pressuring firms to adhere to standards or risk exclusion from major infrastructure opportunities. Owalo’s approach also reflects the broader objectives of the Presidential Delivery Unit, which is tasked with monitoring, coordinating, and enforcing project efficiency within national government programmes.
Beyond Bomet County, the situation raises questions about the management of public resources and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in national projects.
Awarding multiple contracts to a single firm without corresponding performance metrics can undermine development goals and erode public trust.
Owalo’s strong statements indicate that the government is prepared to address these structural weaknesses head-on, potentially reshaping the dynamics between contractors and state agencies.
The ongoing scrutiny of the Chinese contractor is likely to reverberate across the construction sector, signaling to other firms that the government is increasingly willing to take decisive action against non-performing entities.
For residents in Bomet and other counties awaiting road upgrades, the move offers a glimmer of hope that stalled projects may finally gain momentum.
It also highlights the broader policy shift toward accountability, efficiency, and results-driven infrastructure delivery, aligning with the government’s pledge to ensure that public projects benefit citizens as intended.
As the government moves to summon the contractor and assess the reasons behind persistent delays, all eyes will be on whether this intervention yields tangible improvements or escalates into formal punitive measures.
Either outcome carries significant implications: accelerated project completion could restore public confidence and validate the Delivery Unit’s proactive approach, while continued under-performance may lead to landmark debarment actions that redefine contractor-government relations in Kenya.
