KVDA board meets as Kimosop contract ends

Kerio Valley Development Authority Director David Kimosop addresses the press after announcing their collaboration with University of Eldoret.

The board of the troubled Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) is mulling over the appointment of a new Managing Director.

This is after David Kimosop’s term ended, having been clouded with corruption allegations that touched on the construction of Sh63 million multipurpose dams in Elgeyo Marakwet.

In a letter seen by The Standard, and signed by KVDA chairman Jackson Kiptanui, the board has expressed an intention to meet today to discuss the appointment of an acting MD.

According to the letter, the meeting follows a circular from the Ministry of East Africa and Regional Development directing the board to address the issue of the agency’s executive leadership.

A group of directors had already started to raise concerns over the delay in discussing the appointment of a new MD.

While addressing the dam scandal yesterday, Kimosop said Parliament’s implementation committee met to discuss the two dams’ designs that have been received from the Italian contractor, CMC di Ravenna.

Kimosop, however, denied having knowledge of a board meeting to discuss the appointment of a new MD today.

Kimosop joined KVDA in 2012 after being appointed by the then Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo for a three-year term.

In April 2015, his tenure was renewed for another three years by former Environment and natural resources Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu.

Last March Kimosop spent more than five hours at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters, where he was questioned about construction of the Kimwarer and Arror dams.

In April last year, the board decided to extend his tenure by six months in order to create time to recruit a substantive MD.

Deputy Head of Public Service Wanyama Musiambo had advised against the renewal of Kimosop’s term, as it would be against the public service Mwongozo guidelines.

The then Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa had also warned of a legal contest if Kimosop’s term was renewed.

In 2015, before the MD’s term was renewed, some directors opposed his reappointment over poor implementation of Economic Stimulus projects worth more than Sh700 million in arid counties.