Garissa residents are raising alarm over alleged widespread corruption and mismanagement at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), accusing its officials of colluding with Members of Parliament (MPs) to loot public funds intended for road development.
For years, the government has allocated KSh 60 million annually to improve rural roads in Garissa, yet residents say the roads remain in a deplorable and impassable state.
This stark disconnect between funding and outcomes has fueled allegations of systematic corruption within KeRRA’s procurement processes.
Reports from concerned citizens paint a troubling picture of how MPs and KeRRA officials, particularly in the procurement department, have turned the authority into a private cash cow.
Tenders meant for genuine contractors are allegedly manipulated to benefit proxies and companies linked to influential individuals.
These dubious practices not only violate the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act No. 33 of 2015 but also undermine the very purpose of the funds to enhance infrastructure and improve the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.
Garissa residents claim that KeRRA’s regional office has effectively become a puppet of local MPs, who control how funds are allocated and used.
Instead of focusing on road improvements, these leaders allegedly direct resources toward enriching themselves and their cronies.
Meanwhile, the roads in Garissa remain dangerous and unusable, cutting off essential services, slowing down economic activities, and perpetuating the region’s underdevelopment.
One concerned citizen described the situation as a blatant disregard for accountability and fairness.
They noted that KeRRA’s tendering processes are riddled with favoritism and lack transparency, leaving out qualified contractors in favor of well-connected individuals.
The manipulation extends to tender awards, where contractors often receive payments without delivering any meaningful work.
In some cases, projects are abandoned altogether, leaving communities to grapple with roads that are either unfinished or nonexistent.
Calls for accountability are growing louder, with residents demanding that investigative and anti-corruption agencies step in to address the impunity.
They want KeRRA’s activities in Garissa probed, with those found guilty of misusing public funds held to account.
The locals argue that the KSh 60 million allocated annually for rural roads could transform the region if used properly.
Instead, it appears to be lining the pockets of corrupt officials and their political accomplices.
The impunity surrounding these alleged practices highlights a failure of governance at both the local and national levels.
Garissa roads, essential for connecting farmers to markets, students to schools, and patients to hospitals, remain a stark reminder of how corruption robs citizens of their rights and opportunities.
The lack of progress not only hampers development but also erodes public trust in institutions like KeRRA.Residents are urging the government to ensure justice is served.
They are calling for an overhaul of KeRRA’s procurement systems and stricter enforcement of the law to prevent further abuse of public resources.
Until these steps are taken, the dream of a reliable road network in Garissa will remain a distant hope, overshadowed by greed and corruption.
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