Bomet Governor Prof Hillary Barchok has today received official summons to appear before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee (PA&IC) and clear the air over a number of failed county projects.
The committe’s Chairperson Dr Ochilo Ayako specifically wants the County Boss to explain why initiatives like the Bomet stadium project are yet to reach completion despite gobbling up over Sh257 million of taxpayers’ money.
Nine years since works at the sporting facility began, there is no tangible progress in the construction of the stadium whose only highlight is incomplete lines of terraces.
It also lacks vital sanitary amenities.
Barchok, who is a selfless defender of Deputy President William Ruto, is further expected to clarify details in the progress of a court case where a petitioner seeks to stop payment of the contractor who did the initial works owing to wrangles over the ownership of the stadium.
Bomet Deputy Governor Shadrack Rotich had earlier explained to the committee that the project stopped due to tussle over the site between the County Government and Bomet University which forced the later to get court injunction that stopped further construction till the case is resolved.
Despite acknowledging that the matter is currently under discussion in court, Ayako, however, noted that it would be in the best interest of the public if all involved parties opt for dialogue as an alternative way of settling the dispute regarding the ownership of the stadium land, since lots of public money have already been sunk in the project.
“But for us as a committee we are deadly serious because public money has been put here and we have heard the voices of Kenyans who want to have this facility for use,” the statement reads in part.
“We are not going to take answers from any other person because we will only deal with the Governor who must give us conclusive response as to when the facility will be made available for use,” he added.
Accompanying Dr Ayako were Turkana Senator Prof Imana Malachy Ekal, Nominated Senator Mercy Chebeni and Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma.
