Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has sounded a strong warning to contractors working with his county government, vowing to push for their blacklisting if they continue failing to deliver on taxpayer-funded projects.
Speaking on Wednesday, Abdulswamad made it clear that his administration would not tolerate companies that secure lucrative government tenders but fail to implement them effectively, despite receiving full funding for the works.
“Now that the money is available, I want to state this firmly: should any contractor fail to honour their agreements, Mombasa will take the lead, through the Council of Governors and the Senate, to have both the companies and their shareholders blacklisted,” the governor declared.
The county boss expressed particular disappointment with contractors handling water-related projects, accusing some of dragging their feet at the expense of residents who deserve a consistent and reliable supply of clean water.
“Today, I have issued a stern warning to contractors in the water sector who have failed to deliver on their obligations. Access to clean water is not a privilege; it is a right. Any contractor standing in the way of this right will face decisive action,” he emphasized.
Governor Abdulswamad made these remarks shortly after appearing before the Senate County Public Investments Committee.
The committee is currently reviewing the performance and financial health of several county institutions, including the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital and the Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company.
Contractors in Mombasa play a key role in efforts to reduce non-revenue water (NRW)—the portion of water lost through illegal connections, faulty meters, or leakages before reaching paying customers.
Many firms have been tasked with introducing smart meters, sealing illegal connections, and strengthening data monitoring systems to minimize wastage across the county’s network.
Updating senators on the progress made, Governor Abdulswamad revealed that recent county crackdowns on unlawful water connections have already produced measurable results.
“Over the past one month since we intensified enforcement, non-revenue water has reduced by more than 7 percent,” he reported. “This has allowed us to boost supply in areas such as Likoni and the West Mainland, where residents have been struggling with persistent shortages.”
The debate around underperforming contractors has been gaining national attention.
Back in July, Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency, Eliud Owalo, had flagged an alarming trend of politically connected contractors who hide behind patronage networks to dodge accountability while delivering substandard or incomplete projects.
At the time, Owalo vowed that the government would not entertain such malpractice, warning that contractors exploiting political cover to compromise service delivery would face severe consequences.
He further stressed that public procurement must remain transparent and free from conflicts of interest to ensure Kenyans get full value for money.
With Abdulswamad now leading calls for stricter accountability at the county level, contractors working in Mombasa have been put on notice:
failure to deliver will no longer be brushed aside, and those who underperform risk being locked out of future government projects nationwide.
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