Owalo announces crackdown on contractors delaying projects

Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency, Eliud Owalo, has issued a stern warning to contractors and civil servants using political connections to secure public contracts, vowing a government crackdown on individuals undermining service delivery through conflict of interest and procurement interference.

Speaking on Monday, July 21, 2025, during an inspection of government projects in Busia County, Owalo raised concern over project delay caused by contractors who appear “untouchable” due to their political or internal government affiliations.

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“The government will not tolerate contractors hiding behind political patronage to deliver substandard or incomplete work,” Owalo stated.

Owalo stressed that accountability in public service delivery must apply to all, regardless of political alignment or influence. He added that government efficiency is being compromised by individuals who interfere with procurement processes or execute projects poorly, knowing they are shielded from consequence.

He also reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting local economies through the inclusion of local materials and labour in ongoing projects. “Contractors must ensure, where necessary, that they source building materials and hire workers from local communities. This creates jobs and strengthens grassroots economies,” he said.

Mounting scrutiny

While inspecting the Bumala Strategic Market, one of the national government’s flagship projects in partnership with county governments, Owalo highlighted the initiative as part of the broader Kenya Kwanza bottom-up economic transformation agenda.

The project is designed to support informal traders especially women working at the base of the economic pyramid.

“This market represents our promise to empower small-scale traders and grow the local economy from the bottom up. We will not allow inefficiency or corruption to derail such progress,” he noted.

The warning comes amid mounting scrutiny over the quality and pace of government-funded infrastructure projects, especially in rural and underserved regions.

His comments come just days after a similar warning in Nairobi on July 19, where he raised alarm over political interference in procurement and project execution. Owalo said such meddling had led to confusion, ghost contractors, and stalled projects. “Public development is about service not political rewards,” he said.

He also called on oversight agencies to investigate politically influenced contracts and urged leaders to let technical teams work without interference.