By SHABAN MAKOKHA
July 1, 2026| A bitter row has erupted in Mumias East after local contractors accused area MP Peter Salasya of locking them out of lucrative National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) projects in favour of firms from outside the constituency.
In a petition presented during a meeting at the Mumias East Deputy County Commissioner’s office, the contractors claimed they have not won a single NG-CDF contract since Salasya assumed office, despite many having previously undertaken public projects in the constituency.
The contractors, under the umbrella of the Mumias East Contractors Association, demanded what they termed fairness and transparency in the award of constituency projects, saying local businesses were being unfairly sidelined.
“We are not asking for favours. We are asking for fairness,” Association chairperson Martha Khatima said.
“Our members have the technical knowledge, experience and equipment to undertake these projects. It is painful to hear our own Member of Parliament publicly claim that we lack the capacity to deliver quality work.”
The association was responding to remarks it attributed to the MP questioning the ability of local contractors to execute NG-CDF-funded projects.
Contractor Chris Sagala said the alleged remarks had damaged the reputation of local firms and demanded that the MP publicly retract them.
“We want a written public apology. We have successfully completed numerous projects over the years and it is unfair to portray us as incapable,” he said.
Beyond the alleged remarks, the contractors claimed procurement procedures have been ignored, alleging that tenders are either not publicly advertised or are awarded through proxies, effectively locking out qualified local firms.
They further questioned why the constituency procurement office had allegedly been sidelined and called for all procurement processes to be handled through the legally established office in accordance with the Constitution and the NG-CDF Act.
According to the association, projects at Eluche, Kamashia, Lusheya, Khaimba and Arise and Shine primary schools should be subjected to scrutiny.
The contractors are also demanding that the NG-CDF office publish the names of all contractors undertaking constituency projects, indicate where they come from and disclose the criteria used to award the tenders.
“We do not want briefcase contractors. We want transparent and competitive procurement that gives everyone a fair chance,” Sagala said.
The association has further called for an independent social audit of all NG-CDF projects in Mumias East and wants the national NG-CDF Board to temporarily oversee constituency projects until the procurement concerns are investigated.
The contractors warned that they could disrupt ongoing NG-CDF projects if their grievances are not addressed, escalating a dispute that has already seen demonstrations over the award of constituency tenders.
They argue that excluding local contractors has denied residents employment opportunities and weakened businesses that depend on construction projects, saying every project supports suppliers, transporters, artisans, casual labourers and small traders.
“If our own people cannot benefit from development happening in their backyard, then we must ask ourselves who these projects are really serve,” Khatima said.
Contacted for comment, Salasya dismissed claims that he had shut out local contractors and said he had invited them to a consultative meeting on July 17 to resolve the dispute.
“I am willing to meet the contractors so that together we can find a way forward,” the MP said.