MP raises red flag on stalled Sh7 billion project – Weekly Citizen

Bura MP Ali Wario raised a red flag over the stalled Sh7 billion 26 km gravity canal project for Bura Irrigation Scheme.
The project conceived in 2013 and which was supposed to take less than two years to be completed was to connect the main irrigation canals from Korakora canal gravity intake with Nanigi main canal and feed farms in Bura through gravity.

Bura irrigation scheme

This was supposed to save National Irrigation Board millions of shillings that it incurs to pump water using diesel generator from River Tana into the canals.
Addressing the press after touring the stalled project in Dirime area, Wario termed the project as a cash cow for NIB officials.
“I have information that NIB officials want to reward the contract without following the due process to one of the subcontractors so that they can swindle the money that has been allocated to the project next financial year,” Wario said.
The MP said according to records, already Sh2 billion had been paid to the contractor between 2013 and 2017 before the contractor abandoned the site two years ago.
“Sh2 billion is not ordinary change. This is huge amount of money that could have been felt on the ground. But as we speak, there is nothing on the ground to reflect this kind of money that has been paid to the contractor,” Wario said.
When the press toured the two sites that are less than 2km apart, abandoned machineries and containers is what we were met with. Camp sites and abandoned buildings were being consumed by the mathenge plant.
The project has since its inception encountered numerous challenges. At one point, casual labourers working for the contractor demonstrated demanding for wages that had accumulated for over 10 months.