Water CS Chelugui distances himself from dam scandal

Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has distanced himself and his ministry from Arror and Kimwarer dams which have been hit by a major graft scandal.

Chelugui now says that the two dams under contention are not under his ministry and that they are being implemented by the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) under the ministry of East African Cooperation and Regional Development.

The CS has however admitted that Italian contractors CMC di Ravenna who has since been hit by bankruptcy issues were handling Itare dam in Nakuru and that due process was followed in contracting the dam.

Chelugui said he found the project ongoing and the ministry was bound by contractual obligations.

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KVDA dismissed the allegations saying the stalled projects are on schedule and will be completed within the contracted period.

In a paid up advert in the dailies, KVDA said the implementation of the two dams followed all legal considerations and termed the much-hyped stories on the projects as misleading and outrageous.

“As the Authority welcomes investigative agencies to conduct a thorough probe on the allegations, we want to state categorically that no work has stalled,” says KVDA

On Monday, the Directorate of Criminal investigations invited more than 100 directors of over 30 limited companies for questioning over the fraudulent construction of two dams in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

In a press release, Director of Criminal investigations George Kinoti said the listed companies and their directors will assist in the ongoing investigations on the construction of Arror and Kimwarer multi-purpose dams valued at Ksh 63 billion.

The construction was meant to commence in December 2017 with the dams expected to produce hydro-electricity as well as be used for irrigation in the region to mitigate drought and boost food production.

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