Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, on Tuesday, paid a visit to one of President Uhuru Kenyatta's failed projects.
According to reports, the project, Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Scheme, was valued at Ksh7 billion and the firm which was at the center of its construction had already pocked Ksh5.9 billion. The project was aimed at improving food production.
Raila arrived at the site in a chopper and according to a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, there was a fleet of cars and a multitude of people waiting for him.
The AU envoy was accompanied, during the tour, by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, and Tana River Governor, Dhadho Godana.
The project was among Uhuru's flagship projects when he assumed office and ever since its launch, it has been riddled with scandals including Ksh588 million which was paid out to clear the site's bushes.
The final nail in its coffin came in February 2019, when an Israeli firm that was tasked with its construction packed its bags and left, after reportedly pocketing Ksh7 billion.
According to an investigation carried out by Daily Nation in February, the firm, Green Arava, had downed tools on the project several months before finally exiting altogether.
So dire was the situation, that it culminated into a fight between the firm and the National Irrigation Board (NIB), which has reportedly taken over the project.
NIB accused Green Arava of failing to respond to their queries regarding the construction and going entirely rogue.
“We have reached a point of no return. We cannot continue with more payments for work whose progress we are not pleased with. We have written to the National Treasury so that they can advise on a way forward,” stated NIB Head of Design and Planning in charge of Irrigation Projects, Charles Muasya, at the time.
In defence, the Israeli firm argued that NIB had failed to honour its request for payments.
Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Noah Gal Gendler termed it as the first project funded by the Government of Israel to fail in its 70 years of existence.
Below is a video of Raila arriving at the site:
