SH82BN THWAKE DAM RUNS INTO FUNDING WOES
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 22:00
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The Sh82 billion Thwake dam project is unlikely to be completed after the government failed to negotiate or secure funding for three phases of the project, a new audit shows.
Auditor-General Edward Ouko says although the African Development Fund and the Government of Kenya have approved funding of Sh42.365 billion for the first phase, the remainder of the phases with a budget of Sh39.845 billion is yet to be financed or planned for.
The total project cost for phases one to four will see the taxpayer fork out Sh59.95 billion while ADB will provide Sh21.94 billion, bringing the total cost to Sh82.21 billion.
Mr Ouko said the dam project has acquired 9,158 acres of land affecting 1792 households in Makueni and Kitui Counties in Lower Eastern Kenya.
Mr Ouko questioned the failure by the Irrigation Ministry to release Sh676 million to the National Land Commission (NLC) for compensation of 186 project affected persons.
“No explanation has been provided for the delay in the release of the money to the NLC. Site visit revealed that some project affected persons had not moved from the project site yet this should be a protected site.
Mr Ouko said during the year to June 2018, a total of Sh1,399,748,901 were made to NLC for onward transmissions of project affected persons.
“However, out of the 1606 project affected persons, 77 were expected to be paid an amount of Sh139 million but have not been compensated by NLC,” Mr Ouko said.