Members of the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education have raised serious concerns over delayed multimillion-shilling construction projects at two technical and vocational colleges in Kisii County.

The committee questioned how projects at Kitutu Chache South and South Mugirango TVCs remain incomplete years after commissioning, despite millions of taxpayers’ shillings having been spent.

Led by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, the lawmakers expressed frustration over massive contract variations, missing documentation, delayed payments, and conflicting accounts from institutional heads.

At Kitutu Chache South TVC, MPs were alarmed that a twin workshop, classroom, and office block project awarded in April 2019 for Sh57.05 million remains incomplete seven years later.

Despite paying the contractor Sh50.97 million by late 2022, the contract was varied upwards to Sh67.1 million with a 139-week extension.

Maungu criticized the prolonged delay and poor desk-study planning, noting it was unacceptable for a government-funded facility to remain unusable.

“Making it worse, the government has put in extra amounts of money, yet that facility cannot be used by the community,” Maungu said.

Kiminini MP Kakai Bissau warned that the lack of basic procurement documents during audits pointed to severe mismanagement, suggesting a forensic audit may be necessary.

Officials attributed the variations to steep site terrain, while Kisii National Polytechnic Chief Principal Geoffrey Andama stated that outstanding payment disputes had stalled work, though he pledged the contractor could finalize the remaining 10 percent within three months.

Similar irregularities surfaced at South Mugirango TVC, where a Sh55 million contract awarded in May 2019 stalled at 61 percent completion after the original contractor suspended work over unpaid certificates.

The institution subsequently awarded a new Sh21.58 million contract in August 2024.

However, lawmakers were unsettled when told the new project was 100 percent complete, despite basic finishes like painting, ceiling works, and fencing remaining undone.

Clerks of works admitted that essential finishes were omitted from the initial bill of quantities.

Lungalunga MP Chiforomondo Mangale demanded accountability, emphasizing that responsible officials must face consequences even if transferred or retired.

The committee directed institutional leadership to appear in Nairobi within three weeks, equipped with complete project files, variation approvals, and strict completion timelines.