Chinese firm Nanjing LES Information Technology Limited demands for payment of Sh7.2 million in order to repair the CCTV cameras

Condition given by Chinese firm to repair CCTV cameras in the city

Mark Mwithaga

February 5, 2019 3:34 PM

County government distances itself in the matter

CCTV cameras along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi

Nairobi County Roads and Public Works Chief Officer, Fredrick Karanja on Tuesday stated that Chinese firm Nanjing LES Information Technology Limited, wanted to be paid Sh7.2 million to repair the CCTV cameras in the city.

Speaking when he appeared before the Nairobi County Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Karanja stated that the County government could not repair the cameras because the project had not been handed to them.

Nairobi County Assembly Public Accounts Committee Chairman Wilfred Odalo during meeting over faulty CCTV cameras (Nation) Pulse Live Kenya

The firm is noted to have refused to make the repairs as well as handing over the project until the money had been paid in full.

“We had pledged to pay before the contractor could resume maintenance works and subsequent handover of the project to us but we are yet to settle the bill and that is why the contractor has not resumed the project maintenance,” remarked Karanja.

Nanjing LES Information Technology Limited in 2012, had been awarded the contract to supply, install, test, commission and hand over the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Integrated Urban Surveillance System Project by the then Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development.

Expensive traffic management system flops

Report by Auditor General Edward Ouko released in 2018, had revealed that 26 out of the 42 CCTV’s installed in the major roads were not functional.

“However, as observed by the Auditor General, the project has been a total failure despite a colossal sum of public money having been spent,” read a part of the report.

Auditor General Edward Ouko ece-auto-gen

Ouko stated that the flopped project that cost Sh437 million, could not be relied upon to enhance security in the county.

“Further, it has not been clarified whether the cameras are now capable of detecting motor vehicle number plates.

“In the circumstances, the surveillance system and security installations may still not be relied upon to enhance security for the county residents,” stated Ouko.

The Auditor General had further highlighted that no solution had been presented to change the situation.

Mark Mwithaga