Chinese road contractors working along the Sh9.4 billion Kisii-Ahero Highway on Tuesday afternoon blocked the road over alleged harassment from some Government agencies.
This is after Enforcement Officers from Kisii County Government ambushed workers working under the company arresting a number of the casuals and a Chinese Engineer.Motorists plying the Kisii-Oyugis- Kisumu road were forced to wait for hours as the contractor sought to have his workers released.It was not immediately established why officers made the arrests but the County Executive Member in charge of Administration Dr Walter Okibo said the contractor was yet to comply with a number of requirements.
“They have not been paying some taxes, no locals have been employed and they have not put up proper road signages,” said Okibo.The company’s Regional Manager Jay Zhao said they are yet to receive any communication from the County Government regarding the claims made by the executive member.
Seeking solutionMarani OCPD Zachary Wafula said they had in the past two weeks been trying to find a solution for the alleged claims.”Let the law be followed without jeopardizing the ongoing works. We will find a lasting solution in due course,” said Wafula.
A casual Peter Ombuna claimed that officers from the county government have on several occasions been demanding payment whenever the company goes fetching water from a number of streams and rivers in the area.”We don’t know under which law we are supposed to pay taxes for fetching water from a natural river.”
The rehabilitation of the road is being done by Third Engineering Company at a cost of Sh9.4 billion. Running from Kisii to Ahero, it will include Oyugis-Kendu Bay, Misambi-Ekerenyo and Oyugis Gamba feeder roads among others.