This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 24, 2019, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Board appointed Mamo B. Mamo as the Acting Director General, a move that came a day after former boss Geoffrey Wahungu was arraigned in a Nairobi court over the Ksh.63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.
Wahungu, who was the Director General at the time, was among 27 individuals ordered to be arrested by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji following investigations into the scam.
According to the DPP, the conception, procurement, and payment process for the Arror and Kimwarer Dam projects in Elgeyo Marakwet County were riddled with massive illegalities.
“Upon investigations by the DCI, it was established that government officials flouted all procurement rules and abused their oath of office to ensure the scheme went through,” said the DPP.
Approximately Ksh.46 billion was initially allocated towards Arror and Kimwarer dams, but the National Treasury negotiated a commercial facility increasing the amount to Ksh.63 billion, which is Ksh.17 billion more.
Wahungu was arraigned before Magistrate Douglas Ogoti and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to defraud the public, before being freed on cash bail.
