Africa Star Railway Operation Company Limited (Afristar), the firm contracted to run and maintain the Standard Gauge Railway, on Friday, December 13 fought allegations by Daily Nation about its operations.
"Our attention has been drawn to the article on Daily Nation published on December 10, 2019, titled 'Chinese Firm Blocks Bid to Review tilted SGR Contract'. The contents of the said story are without basis and hinged on falsehood," the SGR head office began their statement.
The firm criticised the reporter for allegedly failing to verify the information.
Afristar further claimed that the reporter made no effort to contact them, Kenya Railways or the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to get their side of the story.
The firm reiterated that it had a transparent and accountable contractual relationship with the Kenya Railways Corporation.
"KR and Afristar are not aware of the reported move to 'refuse to provide key information protected by the confidentiality clause', further read the statement.
The company refuted claims that there was ever a disagreement with Kenya Railways.
"Afristar has professionally and diligently performed its obligations under the existing operations and maintenance agreement.
"The Kenya Railways, being the executing agency of the O&M agreement has constantly and consistently evaluated critical components of the agreement " the statement further revealed.
The firm admitted that the agreement was undergoing a review, and had not faced any major hiccups that would warranty 'this kind of ill-informed reporting'.
The statement concluded by stating that both KR and Afristar were committed to a structured engagement and relationship to deliver a world-class railway transport system in Kenya.
In the report, Daily Nation had alleged that the CRBC had declined to submit documents that lay bare the contractual agreement with Afristar on the basis that they were 'private and sensitive'.
The report claimed that Afristar turned away a team led by Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimett, who had been appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to investigate the alleged 'skewed' contract.
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