Investigations into the Ksh 29 Billion dams scandal took a new twist with three Cabinet Secretaries listed among senior government officials who will be questioned in a bid to unravel the truth.
Sh 29 Billion dams scandal takes new twist with 3 CSs set to appear before investigators
In the trail of Ksh 29 Billion lost in the dams scandal
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Sunday Nation reports that Water CS Simon Chelugui has already gone through the first round of questioning, while others who are expected to shed more light on the saga are Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and his Devolution counterpart Eugene Wamalwa.
Chelugui whose docket scandal squarely falls was on Wednesday grilled by investigators over the project that saw the tax payer get a raw deal in one of the most shameful scandals in President Uhuru Kenyatta's second term.
Reports attributed to the investigators also indicate that former Treasury CS Henry Rotich, his principal secretary Kamau Thugge, and Water PS Joseph Irungu are also expected to shed more light on the scam.
The publication quoted the Director of Criminal Investigations, George Kinoti stating that summons had been issued to some of those lined up for questioning.
“They are expected to come for questioning next week,“Those who we will determine played a part in the stealing of money borrowed by taxpayers for what was supposed to be a good project will be taken to court.” Said George Kinoti.
Itare dam faced a number of challenges ranging from compensation, flawed procurement processes and numerous court cases before CC di Rivenna that got the tender closed shop after going bankrupt.
Lamu West MP Stanley Muthama, who is a director of Stansha, was arrested in July and charged with tax evasion amounting to Sh400 million.
He is alleged to have minted more than Ksh 300 Million from the scandal with the cash believed to have been kickbacks given to the MP for assisting CMC Di Ravenna to clinch the contract.
Such kickbacks, according to investigators, could be part of the reason CMC Di Ravenna was paid colossal amounts of money in advance for the Itare Dam, even when it was clear that the company was facing difficulties in completing the Kimwarer and Arror projects, which have since collapsed.
At the time it clinched the Itare Dam deal, CMC di Ravenna was categorised by Standard & Poor’s as ‘CC’, meaning it was highly vulnerable.
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