The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) says the Weija Children’s Hospital is expected to be handed over to the Ministry of Health for public use following an agreement with the project’s contractor, Awerco Construction Limited.
In a press release issued on 16 July, EOCO said it had facilitated engagements between the ministry and the construction firm, resulting in an understanding that the completed facility should be handed over so healthcare services can begin.
According to EOCO, the agreement was reached despite outstanding matters connected to the project. These include claims by the contractor over unpaid sums and concerns raised by the project financier about procurement processes and related issues.
EOCO said the parties had agreed that the hospital should be operationalised without further delay in order to serve its intended public purpose. The office said this would clear the way for the facility to be commissioned and opened, allowing children and families to access specialised healthcare services.
The anti-graft agency stressed that the handover arrangement does not end its work on the project. EOCO said investigations into allegations of procurement breaches, financial impropriety and related matters remain ongoing.
It said the decision to proceed with operationalisation would not affect or prejudice those investigations. EOCO also commended the Ministry of Health and Awerco Construction Limited for their cooperation in reaching the agreement.
No date for the hospital’s commissioning or the start of services was stated in the release.
