Rift Valley Railways firm under probe over use of World Bank billions

3 locomitives arrive at Mombasa Port. Mitcell cotts clearing agents witness the offloading of the 1st batch of new locomotive engines out of 20 consignments. The 3 locomotives are imported by Rift Valley Railways at the cost of 2.2 billion shillings 12th September 2014. Picture by Omondi Onyango

The World Bank has launched investigations into the purchase of locomotives by the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) Company using a Sh16.5 billion international loan it had helped to arrange.

Investigations covering Kenya, Brazil and Egypt has spotlighted a decision by the the company to buy used locomotives and refurbish them instead of acquiring brand new ones.