The inquest to unravel how the money meant for the building of the Arror and Kimwarer is still getting new and fresh angles each and every day.
The team of detectives are now shifting the focus in efforts to the get to the root of the matter. The Permanent Secretaries are now absorbed into this scandal.
But what the Deputy President was quoted saying that only 7.8 Billion is the money is question, is almost the same amount the two PS are being interrogated for. Their sum adds up to ksh. 7.8Billion.
These are former Devolution and Planning PS Irungu Nyakera and ex- East African Community PS Susan Koech.
The details emerged after DCI boss George Kinoti summoned three more CSs: Mwangi Kiunjuri who was the minister when the two deals were signed, his successor Eugene Wamalwa and Water CS Simon Chelugui.
Letters in our possession indicate that Nyakera and Koech wrote to Treasury PS Kamau Thugge on different dates seeking the release of an advance payment to CMC di Ravenna following requests from KVDA.
Koech wrote a letter to Thugge on October 5, 2018, asking the Treasury PS to release Sh3.5 billion as advance payment to the contractor in respect of Kimwarer dam according to the STAR Newspaper.
“The purpose of this letter is to forward relevant documents as submitted by Kerio Valley Development Authority to facilitate the advance payment of USD 33, 663,324.59 equivalent to Ksh 3, 485, 500, 628.04,” Koech wrote.
Koech who has since been moved to the Ministry of Wildlife said in her letter that “the contractor is entitled to 15 per cent advance payment as stipulated in clause 14.2 of the contract.”
Some of the instruments of payments that were forwarded to the Treasury PS to facilitate the release of the down payment included a payment voucher, the bank guarantee of an equivalent amount, the interim payment certificate, proforma invoice and contract agreement.
On his part, Nyakera who has since been hounded out of office, wrote to Thugge on December 21, 2018 asking him to release Sh4.6 billion for the construction of the Kimwarer dam.
“This is therefore to request your office to execute the payments,” Nyakera wrote.
He went on: “Please note that according to the contract design, completion of works and remedying of any defects will be done at a price of USD 277,407, 605.50 (Sh28bn) excluding taxes.”
It’s understood that Treasury CS Henry Rotich who has been grilled by DCI detectives has insisted that his role was limited to signing the finance agreement with the Italian government.
Sources at DCI said the minister has insisted that he cannot answer for the procurement agency which is KVDA and the implementing ministries.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating a total of Sh21 billion advance payments to CMC Ravenna for the construction of the two dams amid questions why money was wired without project designs.
The DCI and the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji have indicated that investigations into the dams scam is a complex probe that would require international assistance.