Watts Up Magazine wattsup magazine online | Page 34

VIEW
By Robert Mahenia
Life beyond the mega
project
There must be a well-
coordinated flow of
information to workers,
suppliers and the community
during mega projects to
enable them to plan for a
stable post construction
period.
T
he country has witnessed an upsurge of mega projects in various
parts of the country stretching from Kwale’s mining sites to
Turkana’s oil fields.
These projects are being undertaken mainly through public private
partnership or through concession loans. Such projects command
large capital outlay particularly in the construction period. To facilitate
construction, huge equipment and machinery are shipped into the
country.
The construction period is the most noticeable occurrence in a project
cycle to the local communities since it is labour intensive and may
absorb hundreds to thousands of unskilled labour. From a layman
perspective, there is an expectation that the labour intensity will last
throughout the project’s lifetime. There needs to be a good flow of
detailed information from the project company, particularly to the
workers, suppliers of local goods and service to enable them to make
long term decisions.
Standard Gauge Railway construction
34
WATTS UP MAGAZINE JAPR - MAY 2017