New Twist in Arror and Kimwarer dams project as Ksh 160M splashed on vehicles

Investigations have revealed that Sh160 million of the Arror and Kimwarer dams project money was paid to Toyota Kenya for 45 vehicles, including Prados, Toyota Fortuners, Corollas, Hiace vans and pickup trucks.

But only 17 of the vehicles were registered in the name of CMC di Ravenna, the bankrupt Italian firm hired to build the two dams. CMC di Ravenna has since filed for insolvency in Italy.

Detectives have so far traced and impounded 37 of the vehicles, which are currently at the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road. Of the detained vehicles, nine are registered in the name of CMC di Ravenna but detectives insist they are part of the investigations.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are probing how the vehicles bought using funds meant for the construction of dams were mysteriously transferred to two privately owned warehouses one of which is associated with former President Daniel Arap Moi before they were registered.

Somehow, 18 of the vehicles were whisked away to a bonded warehouse on Mombasa Road, Nairobi, owned by logistics firm Mitchell Cotts. The other 10 were taken to another warehouse at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport owned by Siginon Freight Kenya, a logistics firm associated with the former President.

But the DCI did not confirm whether the vehicles at the Mitchell Cotts and Siginon warehouses have since been registered or whether the individuals behind their movement have been found.

While the financing arrangement for the Kimwarer and Arror dams remains in the shadows of a select few government bureaucrats, detectives have discovered that most of the Sh20.5 billion released went towards paying insurance premiums. Kenya paid a total of Sh11.6 billion in insurance premiums to secure lenders financing the white elephant projects.

The government also paid Sh908 million to the Italian government as a commitment fee to ensure that the projects would be seen to the end, and that Kenya would repay the loans taken to finance the construction.

Detectives are currently looking into 122 companies that received money from the dams kitty. While about 75 per cent of the budget for the construction of the dams has been released, there is little on the ground to show for the expenditure.