Ukambani governors demanded that a Chinese contractor sets aside Ksh5 billion to subcontract companies from Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos.
Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Charity Ngilu and Alfred Mutua of Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos respectively were angered by a stipulation in China Ghezouba Group‘s deal to award 30 percent of the Ksh36.5 billion Thwake Dam project contracts to local firms.
The Ukambani leaders have been fighting for unity among the politicians of the region to bring change to the locals.
According to the Chinese company’s interpretation, a local company means any company in Kenya while the county bosses have disputed the definition.
The Governors wants a piece of the whole pie for the locals to enjoy in the project.
“Local firms in the contract are defined as all Kenyan companies, whether they are within Ukambani region or not but we’ll redefine this to factor local merchants from Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni,” stated Kibwana.
The dam, a Vision 2030 flagship project, will be implemented in four main phases: Construction of a 77-metre-high dam; a hydro-power generation component; 34,600 cubic metres of water supply; and irrigation of 40,000 hectares of land.