Rotich questioned for the third day in dams’ project scandal

The Directorate Of Criminal Investigations Headquarters where CS for Finance Henry Rotich appeared before detectives for questioning over multi-billion dams scandal. [PHOTO:WILBERFORCE OKWIRI]

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich on Thursday went back to face detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for the third consecutive day.

Detectives are investigating controversial payments for the construction of the stalled Arror and Kimwarer Dams saga in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The CS arrived at the DCI at about 4pm in the company of his lawyer Katwa Kigen. Police aware of the probe said there were some clarifications that the CS was supposed to make on some issues.

He had on Tuesday and Wednesday responded to 301 questions in which he was supposed to answer yes or no then explain further on the responses.

Those aware of the probe said he responded to the questions, which were on more than 200 pages after he visited the officers from Serious Crime Unit for the third consecutive day.

Today was the fourth time he was appearing before the team investigating claims of fraud in the two projects that are yet to kick off since 2017 when money for the same was paid.

The files on the probe will now be sent to the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions who will decide on the fate of the CS and several other senior officials from, Treasury, Kerio Valley Development Authority and a number of suppliers of services and goods.

The team handling the matter said they would take the DPP officers through what they have gathered so far for them to understand and make a decision.

DCI Director George Kinoti said a decision on whether or not to charge any of those so far questioned will be made once investigations are completed.

The probe was triggered by a letter from Italy to President Kenyatta saying the company had difficulties in continuing with the project.

It was then that the president demanded to know what had happened amid revelation part of the initial payments made for the projects was paid as kickbacks to few Kenyans.

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

There was also no due diligence was also done on the project, police say they have established.

The CS was asked about missing National Environmental Management Authority reports, lack of public participation on the projects and other crucial documents that were key before any payments would be made.

Several other top directors and managers at Treasury including Principle Secretary Kamau Thuge had too recorded statements two weeks ago and explained their roles.

The contractors had told the investigators they used the Itare dam project as their due diligence base and another dam in South Africa to start the Arror and Kimwarer one.

A team was sent to South Africa last week to establish if there is any such a dam there and came back on Saturday. It is not clear what they found out.

There were claims treasury had written to Kenya Forest Service and National Land Commission to facilitate land settlement for the projects. Officials from both KFS and NLC have been grilled with the former declining to surrender their land.

KVDA says only Sh7.8 billion has been paid for the project while DCI says their probe shows up to Sh20.5 billion has so far been released for the dam projects that are yet to commence since 2017.

Rotich was also be questioned as to why he went against the advice of the Attorney General and signed off a deal with a company that is now grappling with financial constraints

KVDA Managing Director David Kimosop, procurement boss William Maina Kiprotich and the authority’s engineer Paul Serem among other officers have been questioned too.

The project was to be a joint venture by KVDA, CMC di Ravena and Itinera of Italy. But police have detected several faults in subsequent contracts that were signed to warrant payments.

Arror dam was set to cost Sh38.5 billion while Kimwarer dam was budgeted for Sh28 billion.

CMC di Ravena has sought protection from courts in Italy in a move seen as declaration of bankruptcy.

A part from boosting food security, the dams will also be used to provide clean water for hundreds of households in the county and neighboring county of Uasin Gishu and besides, generate 60 per cent megawatts of hydro-electric power to be connected to the national grid.

A group of officials from CMC di Ravena moved to the ground in the company of armed police on Tuesday and started to take measurements of the targeted site.