National Land Commission acting CEO Kabale Tache. FILE PHOTO | NMG
A Sh5.3 billion irrigation project that Deputy President William
Ruto launched in Western Kenya without involvement of line ministries
is on the spot as contractors demand compensation for delays.
Parliament
heard that as a result of bypassing Water ministry, the National
Irrigation Board (NIB) and the National Land Commission, the project
launched by Dr Ruto on June 8, 2019, risks stalling and exposing
taxpayers to cost escalation.
Chinese contractor
Sinohydro Company has already put in a claim for Sh509 million for delay
in the construction works although project engineer who is the
supervising consultant puts the outstanding claims at Sh50.7 million.
“The
total determination by the engineer to date therefore amounts to Sh50.7
million, but which the contractor intends to contest and take the
dispute to the NIB board,” a report tabled in Parliament shows.
The
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said Dr Ruto misled the country when he
announced that the Lower Nzoia Irrigation project-affected persons
(PAPs) had been compensated prior to launch in Busia and Siaya counties.
Water ministry Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu, NIB's chief
executive Gitonga Mugambi, and acting NLC chief executive officer Kabale
Tache all told PAC that the DP's office did not contact them ahead of
the launch of the project funded by donors under "the Kenya Water
Security and Climate Resilience Project".
“There was no
contact between the DP’s office and my ministry. I can’t confirm that
my CS was contacted because there is nothing in writing,” Mr Irungu
said.
The NIB, which is the project implementing
agency, said it was not contacted prior to the launch. “There was no
contact between DP and NIB. I was however present during the launch on
instructions by then Principal Secretary Fred Sergor. He instructed me
to attend the function,” Mr Mugambi said.
“NIB is
coordinating implementation on the ground and we are dealing with the
contractor on daily basis. One challenge is that I have no land for
contractor to do the job. My work is to construct when I get land from
NLC,” Mr Mugambi said.
Ms Kabale said NLC has not
completed compensation of people affected by the project as it was
undertaking valuation at the time of the launch.
“When I
came to office, I was told gazettement of the compulsory acquisition
did not take effect immediately for the project to close to a year. It
is until December 22, 2017 that the gazette was made. We are still doing
compensation and we have paid Sh185 million for the Siaya section and
none for Busia,” Ms Kabale said.
The project, which
covers Ugunja, Alego Usonga and Budalang'i constituencies is aimed at
boosting rice production and preventing floods in Busia and Siaya
counties.
The project is funded through a Sh3.9 billion loan from the World Bank and Sh1.4 billion from Germany.
The Chinese company started works in June last year.
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