The Kenyan government has announced plans to introduce a policy framework that will limit the number of projects a contractor can bid for simultaneously. The proposed measure aims to address growing concerns over contractors overstretching their capacity, leading to significant project delays and inefficiencies.
Speaking during an inspection tour of government projects in Nakuru County, Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance and Delivery Management, Eliud Owalo, highlighted the urgency of tackling the issue. He noted that some contractors, after securing multiple contracts, have repeatedly failed to deliver within agreed timelines despite having received milestone-based payments.
“As a government, we are going to come up with a policy framework perhaps restricting the number of projects within a given jurisdiction that a contractor can bid for at the same time — so that we don’t have these inordinate delays occasioned by lack of capacity,” said Owalo.
The tour in Nakuru is part of a broader national oversight program aimed at monitoring the implementation and progress of government-funded initiatives. Owalo stressed that such inefficiencies not only derail the country’s development agenda but also erode public trust in government operations.
To ensure accountability, the government plans to blacklist and disqualify contractors who consistently underperform or fail to meet delivery deadlines. “We are not going to allow a situation where the government has met its part of the bargain, yet the contractors still cannot meet their obligations,” Owalo emphasized.
The proposed policy, once approved by the Cabinet, is expected to tighten procurement procedures and prioritize contractor performance and capacity during the selection process. It reflects a renewed government commitment to effective service delivery and prudent use of public resources.
“This is about ensuring that taxpayer money is not wasted, and that the public receives the services and infrastructure they were promised on time and to standard,” Owalo concluded.
The new policy signals a shift in how government projects will be managed going forward, with a strong emphasis on accountability, performance, and timely execution.
