EDITORIAL: UK detectives could help hasten dams scandal probe

The silence over investigations into the multi-billion-shilling dams scandal in Elgeyo Marakwet County has been worrying. After high-profile and widely-publicised investigations that saw Cabinet secretaries and other top government officials quizzed several times, the matter went silent all of a sudden. It seemed the investigators had either hit a brick wall or developed cold feet. Whichever the case, the public has been anxiously waiting for a conclusive outcome of the investigations and, importantly, sanctions and prosecution of culprits.

Now, it seems the investigators have changed tack and upped the game. Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has announced that the government has secured the support of Britain to expedite and conclude the investigations.

The British government has seconded its detectives to work with the Kenyan authorities to solidify and expedite the inquiry and bring the matter to a conclusion. This is important. The scandal is multi-layered, transnational and complicated. CMC di Ravenna, the Italian firm contracted to do the work, has sued for insolvency. As it enlisted for the project abroad, it sought and obtained support from home government. Since the firm has sued for insolvency, it cannot transact business. It does not have the resources and capabilities to deliver on a project, yet Kenya has paid huge sums for work not even started.

Clearly, the case has implications for bilateral contracts and relationship between countries. Investigating such contracts requires international networks and that is why collaboration with the British government is appropriate. Moreover, locally, it also helps to dispel false claims that investigations are targeting communities or sections of politicians.

Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal ranks among the most outrageous. Although the country lost huge sums of money, conservatively estimated at Sh21 billion, some politicians, including Deputy President William Ruto, have purposed to downplay the matter and worse, intimidate and scandalise those raising pertinent questions. Paradoxically, the dams were aimed at improving agriculture and water supply. But that was never to be. Food security remains a veritable challenge. Currently, millions stare at starvation and imminent death but the government seems unsure of what to do.

We encourage the DPP to expedite the investigations now that it has obtained external support. Not only should the investigators tackle the dam scandal but also all others that remain unresolved.