Dams’ kickback probe continues as suppliers pledge cooperation with police

Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) MD David Kimosop (in a white shirt) on a tour at Kipsaiya in Marakwet West were Arror multi-purpose dam was to be constructed. [Photo: Fred Kibor/Standard]

Investigations into claims of kickbacks in the stalled Sh63 billion Kimwarer and Arror dam projects in Elgeyo Marakwet will continue on Monday with more suppliers set to be questioned.

Some suppliers have pledged to co-operate with police after they were threatened with conspiracy to defraud charges.

Officials aware of the probe said one supplier said he would provide CCTV footage to identify those who picked food and wine from his store in Nairobi.

The supplier delivered food and wine worth Sh15 million. The items were picked from his yard in Lavington, Nairobi. The police wants to know why he did not deliver the items to the sites.

“He says he will provide CCTV footage of those who picked the items. He is worried he might be charged over crimes he did not commit,” a source said.

The police are investigating more than 100 suppliers over construction of the dams.

One supplier revealed they supplied cutlery worth Sh8 million to an office in Eldoret while another delivered towels worth Sh22 million. They were contracted by CMC di Ravenna, the Italian contractor of the project.

Former South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya, whose Kema East Africa Ltd supplied helmets, gumboots and ear plugs, said his firm was not party to the scandal.

Protective gear

He said his company supplied the protective gear worth Sh133,000 and that he used a courier service to deliver them in Eldoret. They were confirmed as received and a delivery note signed, he said.

“If these scandals were not unearthed, I believe our company would have supplied more," said Nyamweya.

The police are interrogating the companies on what they supplied.

Treasury Cabinet secretary Henry Rotich has been summoned again by detectives investigating the claims.

It will be the second time the CS will appear before detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters to explain his role in the alleged fraud.

Rotich is at the centre of the probe after he was accused of having paid the contractor billions of shillings yet no work has been done. The CS appeared before detectives on February 18.

He was asked to explain how and why he released the money without designs and bill of quantity among others.

The contractors had told the investigators they used designs of Itare Dam and another one in South Africa to start Arror and Kimwarer.