The group that toured the mall located at Mamboleo along Kisumu Kakamega road said the mall is ready for occupation and the delay in opening it is now suspect/FILE.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 1 – Civil Society groups in Kisumu have continued to exert pressure on the government to commission the Sh4.1 billion Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) mall.
The group that toured the mall located at Mamboleo along Kisumu Kakamega road said the mall is ready for occupation and the delay in opening it is now suspect.
Edger Odoyo, a member of the group “Operation the Mall” said despite the ongoing investigations into some reported malpractices, the mall should be opened.
Odoyo said investigations should proceed when the mall is operational to enable business people who had already paid up for spaces to conduct their activities.
He lauded local leaders who have raised the mall issue both in the Senate and National Assembly.
Erick Okello who also spoke to the media says the spaces at the mall are enough to accommodate even those who were affected by the ongoing demolition in the lakeside city.
Okello said most businesspeople are unable to conduct their businesses due to lack of space and the mall will be a perfect place for the locals to trade and grow economically.
The mall was completed in 2013 and its official opening has been delayed by the ongoing investigations being conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Several former and current officials of LBDA have been questioned in the recent past on the variation of the building cost.
