A security fence project along the Kenya-Somali border conceived to keep out Al-Shaabab militants turned into a cash cow, gobbling over Sh3.3 billion for a 10 kilometre stretch, according to a report tabled in the National Assembly.
The revelations, which have outraged lawmakers, tells a tale of impunity, where people charged with state resources splashed Sh300 million per kilometer on the security barrier consisting of chain link, razor barbed wire and concrete poles.
The idea to build the wall conceived in the wake of constant attacks by the militants was approved by the National Security Advisory committee (NSAC) in 2015 and was undertaken by the ministry of Interior and Coordination of National government.
It was later transferred to the Ministry of Defence following a presidential directive.
“Before handing over of the project to the Ministry of Defence, the ministry had expended a total of Sh3, 380, 353, 960.52 as tabulated below,” states the report.
It then gives a breakdown of the spending: Sh887 million (2014-2015 financial year), Sh306 million (2015-2016 financial year) and Sh578 million (2016-2017 financial year). This however adds up to Sh1.7 billion and it is unclear whether some expenditure has been skipped.
However, in another section, the report states Sh 1.5 billion was reallocated to the ministry of Defence after the transfer of the project.
Although the Government splashed the huge amount on the 10-kilometre stretch, construction workers from the National Youth Service (NYS) are said to have gone without pay, according to details gleaned from minutes of the report by the Defence and Foreign Relations committee.
“The wall project was established by the NSAC through a letter from Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service addressed to the Principal Secretary, State Department of Interior,” reads the report.
Initial estimates by the Ministry of Defence put the total cost of the project at Sh8 billion. The money was to be spent on three sections of the project covering 700km.
The three sections are Northern (Sh3.5 billion) covering 160km, Southern (Sh2.6 billion) covering 105km, and Central (Sh1.8 billion) with 445km.
[ATTACH=full]229252[/ATTACH]