Members of Parliament have suspended the construction of 22 dams worth Ksh188 billion until unresolved issues surrounding the projects have been sorted out.
National Assembly’s Environment committee stopped the Ministry of Water from signing contracts until the government secures land through compensation.
The 22 dam projects are in the process of procurement and have either been tendered or about to be tendered.
The legislators alleged that the contractors have turned the projects into a cash cow where they demand kickbacks before embarking on work.
The committee, chaired by Kareke Mbiuki, also want the DCI and EACC to launch investigations into the projects being financed externally under the Engineering, Procurement Construction and Finance (EPCF) programme.
EPCF is a form of contracting arrangement where the contractor is made responsible for all the activities from design, procurement, construction, commissioning and hand over of the project.
“It is pointless to award mega-projects through EPCF, pay cowboy contractors in advance and the government fails to compensate landowners to pave the way for construction of the projects,” Mbiuki mentioned.
The suspended dam projects include Kamumu (Ksh6 billion), Rupingazi (Sh5.5 billion), Thambana (Ksh5 billion), Maara (Ksh4.1 billion), Thingithu (Ksh600 million), Kahurura (ksh5.9 billion), Kinja (Ksh3.9 billion) and Wiyumiririe (Ksh3 billion).
Others are Karemeno (Ksh8bn), Londiani (Ksh4.6bn), Bute (Ksh15bn), Bosto (Ksh19.9 billion), Maragua IV (Ksh7 billion), Keben/Lesos (Ksh4.2 billion), Isiolo (Ksh10 billion), Ndarugi II (Ksh33 billion), Mwache (Ksh15 billion), Kiandongoro (Ksh12 billion), Soin Koru (Ksh24 billion) and Kabasi (Ksh2 billion).
Arror and Kimwarer dams, whose construction is being done by CMC di Ravenna are currently subjects of investigation.
