President Uhuru cancels overpriced Kimwarer dam project

President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the immediate cancelation of the Kimwarer Dam project due to technical and financial unfeasibility.

According to the Technical Committee chaired by Principal Secretary for Infrastructure Prof Paul Maringa, the Sh22.2 billion Kimwarer dam was found to have been overpriced and that the project is neither technically nor financially viable.

In a press release, the dam would be financially unsustainable since it relies on a costly pumping mechanism to supply water.

Displaced residents in the area will be compensated.

However, President Uhuru gave a nod on the immediate commencement of the implementation of the Arror Multipurpose Dam project despite being overpriced too.

“After a detailed technical review, the Technical Committee was satisfied that the Arror Multipurpose Dam Project is economically viable but noted that it was overpriced,” read the statement partly.

The Arror dam which was previously estimated to cost Sh28.3 billion will now cost Sh15.4b with power and Sh13.1 billion without power and will require about 250 acres of land.

President Uhuru formed the committee to assess the two dam projects after it emerged that Sh21b vanished in Arror, Kimwarer dams scandal that led former Treasury CS Henry Rotich and his PS Kamau Thugge to step down.

26 government officials have been charged in the multibillion-shilling Kimwarer and Arror dams’ scandal.?