What was supplied and paid for to the non-existent project

Details on what the more than 100 firms linked to the stalled Sh63 billion Kimwarer and Arror dam projects supplied have emerged.

A leading car dealer was paid Sh77 million to supply cars for operations by CMC di Ravenna, the contractor of the project.

A supermarket was paid Sh4 million for supplying pillows and bed sheets while a company was paid Sh15 million for supplying food and wine to CMC last year. Car hire services cost Sh7 million, while Sh18 million was used for aerial survey services.

According to police, a company was paid Sh19 million for physical studies, another was paid Sh13 million for providing air tickets and another Sh6 million for generators.

A company that provided registration services was paid Sh500,000, another one that supplied timber got Sh66,000. A firm that provided a helicopter for two days received Sh310,000.

The materials were dropped off in Eldoret, Kapsowar and Nairobi while others were picked up from the suppliers’ offices.

The suppliers’ representatives have been going to Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters to write statements on what they did and why they were paid.

Pay kickbacks

Police are building charges against some of the suppliers that will include conspiracy to defraud. So far 45 firms have appeared before the DCI. More than 100 companies were summoned on Tuesday.

Another firm told police that it delivered materials at a construction site in Eldoret town while another delivered towels worth Sh22 million in the same area.

Tiles worth Sh13 million were delivered to a warehouse in Eldoret.

A multi-agency team based at the DCI is investigating claims of fraud in the project. It has revealed that some of the money was used to pay kickbacks, hence affecting the project.

The project was to be a joint venture by Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), CMC di Ravena and Itinera of Italy.

According to KVDA records, Arror dam was to cost Sh38.5 billion, while Kimwarer in Keiyo South was budgeted for Sh28 billion.

“People were paid and no single project is being implemented on the ground,” said DCI George Kinoti.

The directors of the companies have been going to DCI for questioning. Apart from boosting food security, the dams were also to provide clean water for hundreds of households in Elgeyo Marakwet County.