Kerio dams billions diverted to build Ruto's palatial Sugoi residence and Dolphin Beach Resort -

Senator Kipchumba Murkomen also a beneficiary of the scam

The unfolding corruption scandal involving the Kerio Valley hydro-power dam construction by the Jubilee government have hit new depths with damning revelations that cash deposits paid to an Italian contractor by the Kenya Government were wired back to Kenya as kickbacks and ultimately used to pay suppliers of building materials, luxury fittings and furnishings for well connected wheeler dealers, The payments disguised as subcontractor fees were not only use to fund construction of homes and hotels but also used to fund private first class travel and helicopter rides for Tanga Tanga politicians, ghost suppliers, cowboy contractors, tax evaders and thieves of all shades. The main beneficiaries appear to be Deputy President William Ruto and his close political allies who pocketed cash meant for the construction of water and power projects in Kerio valley. This week, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations summoned directors of 107 private firms companies linked to the Sh63 billion scandal at Arror and Kimwarer multipurpose dams to record statements relating to Sh6 billion bribery and kickback scandal involving Italian construction firm CMC di Ravenna. Sources at DCI told Kenyan News Day that the firm’s and their Directors were linked to various on going projects and purchase of high value assets. The worst excesses, according to DCI sources, involved Deputy President William Ruto and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who conspired with crooked firms to make fictitious project supplies with inflated invoicing as a means of diverting funds meant to benefit the country and the poorest communities of Kerio Valley to their own individual luxury projects. For instance; Aquva Agencies with presence in Kisumu,Nairobi and Mombasa, Infinity Furnitures, and Tiles and Carpets Centre which are all Indian-owned firms, supplied huge amounts of construction materials such as steel, timber house hold fittings and high end furniture to Dolphin Beach Hotels which is being renovated at a cost of Sh600 million by Deputy President William Ruto. Ruto’s luxury Dolphin beach resort is renovated on a 10-acre parcel in the North Coast overlooking the Indian ocean with extensive construction has been going on for two years and is part of Weston Hotel chain but under the name Dolphin Hotel.

The same firms summoned by DCI supplied all manner of materials for the DP’s palatial residence in Uasin Gishu County. Ruto’s plush multi-million shilling residence in Moiben Constituency, Eldoret town sits on more than 700 acres, has a complete private airstrip and helipads, several luxury guest wings, two olympic-size swimming pools, a library, gym and other lavish facilities. Building materials, furnishings, fittings and equipment for Ruto’s home, known as ‘State House’ by local villagers, were supplied at inflated costs to these facilities.

Kenyan News Day authoritatively also learnt that another direct beneficiary of the scam is Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who has maintained silence as the scandal exploded in his own backyard. Murkomen is constructing a Sh200 million palatial residence in Nairobi’s upmarket area of Karen adjacent to luxurious Bogani Villas. Murkomen reportedly obtained the property as his cut in the deal after he facilitated Senate committee meetings which approved the two white-elephant hydro-power dams. Murkomen’s Nairobi home project received steel, cement, and timber for construction as well as imported fittings and other exotic furniture supplied by firms whose directors have now been summoned by the DCI. Some of the luxury house hold goods were also transported to Murkomen’s new home in high end Elgon View Estate within Eldoret Town.

If your name is Tom&you pay KShs 10M as “logistical support” to Dick in the mistaken believe that he is Harry an influential government official whom you expect to extend “favors” to you by influencing state tenders, then you should be arrested & Dick should be made state witness

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) February 25, 2019

DCI investigators have unearthed cases of double and inflated invoicing to the public projects but with the physical goods being secretly delivered to the estates of private individuals. Shocked DCI investigators termed the emerging abuse of office and betrayal of trust as outrageous. As the scale of the scandal sinks in, it is clearly emerging that certain individuals in positions of government authority together with their co-conspirators in the private sector took advantage of official positions to engage in brazen embezzlement of public funds, including those intended for benefit of rural poor communities in the Rift Valley.