A Ksh.100M Marsabit college launched by Ruto in 2015 has stalled, the contractor now wants additional Ksh.17M

The stalled Saku Technical Training Institute (TTI) now requires an additional funding amounting to Ksh.17 million for completion and handing over.

The project was commissioned 8 years ago by the national government to forge a pathway to deepen its competitive technical capacity.

According to the contractor, Galm Guyo, lack of funding as well as court case derailed the project that was officially launched by the then deputy president William Ruto in April 2015.

The national government then budgeted Ksh.100 million for construction and equipping of the learning facility in Saku constituency, Marsabit County.

“We have experienced three major challenges in completion of the project – insecurity, funding, and a case filed by an individual citing grabbing of his private property,” said Mr. Galm.

The contractor told Citizen Digital that his company, Malach General Construction Limited, was issued with a tender document amounting to Ksh.44 million after he took over the site following the death of the first contractor.

“Communal clashes affected our work, high cost of material was a challenge and the court case became another stumbling block and affected our performance. These issues took toll on me without any help in sight,” he said.

Mr. Galm added that Saku Member of Parliament Dido Ali Rasso gave a personal donation of Ksh.2 million to continue with the construction as the matter was being followed up progressively.

“The MP was so concerned and issued me with advice and some money because he wants our children to benefit from this project unfortunately we are still stuck,” stated the contractor.

He called on the national government to disburse additional Ksh.17 million to allow him complete the project in three months and hand it over.

“If the government pays the amount urgently, I will complete in a record of 90 days, hand over and enjoy my peace of mind because, as much as I am a businessperson, I am no longer interested in any profit concerning this project,” added Mr. Galm.

The contractor believes that the completion of the project will ease transport and fees burden, as well as reduce the number of students seeking technical training institutions outside the county lines.

The state of the art building was designed to have modern facilities on a slightly over 100 acre piece of land in Jirime location.

“While I don’t want to talk about an active court case, as a point of information, the community filed an application at Isiolo court to appeal the previous ruling by Marsabit High Court that declared the land as private property,” Mr. Galm went on.

He is now calling on President William Ruto and local leaders to intervene and ensure the project comes to completion. His sentiments were echoed by Jirime residents.

Abdullah Dabasso, one such resident, said; “It is a high time for the President to personally intervene because we want to utilize this land for projects like construction of health facilities, police post, water points and schools.”

Another resident, Mekelina Lepalo, expressed fear that the project will fail if a concrete solution is not found urgently.

The contractor and the residents are jointly calling for an amicable solution to the challenges derailing the project.