Team shocked at Sh575 million dam project

By PAUL MUTUA

The Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources has visited the Umaa Dam in Water Minister Charity Ngilu’s Kitui Central constituency.

The committee expressed dismay and disappointment at how Sh575 million could have been spent on the stalled project.

Yesterday, the team, led by Vice-Chairperson Peris Simam, left the site dissatisfied with the answers given by the contractor, consultant and National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation officials.

Mrs Simam said her committee would summon implementing stakeholders to appear before them later to explain in detail how such colossal amount could have been spent on "nothing".

At one point, Draft & Develop Engineers Limited Managing Director Mwangi Kibe bitterly differed with National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation CEO Petrolina Ogutu over allegations that Mr Kibe’s contracting firm had presented a fictitious bill for payment in its financial appraisal of the project.

Kibe said as contractors they submitted bids for the dam project based on bills of quantities, scope of works specifications prepared by project consultants and the National Water and Pipeline Corporation, but which had several omissions.

Simam and colleagues Kiema Kilonzo, Washiali Gitau, Justus Kizito, Benjamin Washiali and Benedict Gunda said they would discuss their findings before making them public.

Came and left

Water Assistant Minister Ferdinand Waititu appeared at a meeting at Tanathi Water Services Board’s offices but disappeared before the team toured the dam site.

Speaking to the Press at the site, the committee said they could not understand why the implementing stakeholders could not provide clear answers to their questions on graft allegations at the project.

"We are perturbed by the way the implementing bodies at Umaa Dam have taken us in circles and deliberately evaded our questions," Simam complained.

Kiema wondered who was cheating who and why the stalemate in proving adequate answers to help get to the bottom of the matter.

He said the impasse pointed to fishy dealings at the project.

While the contractor said 98 per cent of the works had been done, the consulting firm, Kiri Consultant, contradicted him, saying only 68 per cent of the work had been done.