Uhuru's Night Meeting Where Ksh34 Billion Dam Deal Was Signed

President Uhuru Kenyatta, on the evening of July 14, 2015, hosted then Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at State House, Nairobi.

"Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrived in Kenya this evening for a two-day official visit," announced the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) at the time. 

The two leaders and their delegations held a meeting that went into the night,  witnessing the signing of a Ksh34 billion financing agreement between and an Italian bank and Kenya for the construction of Itare Dam. 

The country was happy to learn that Italy had partnered with Kenya to improve the country's water storage and supply in the Rift region.

“The funds will cover the whole water project which consists of the construction of the dam, a tunnel, raw water treatment of 100,000 cubic metres per day and laying of pipes. The dam will serve over 800,000 people in Kuresoi, Molo, Njoro, Rongai and Nakuru,” stated the PSCU.

It was the same meeting where keen-eyed Kenyans noted that the Italian Prime Minister had worn what appeared to be a bulletproof vest. 

Four years later, the project, which looked promising at the start, is now in tatters with reports the contractor, CMC Di Ravenna has run into cash-flow challenges.

The project is also marred by investigations of corruption involving high profile state officials who allegedly awarded the contract without conducting due diligence on the contractor. 

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti stated that preliminary investigations show the project is only between two and five per cent complete.