Kenya's National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich spent over six hours under questioning by detectives investigating alleged mismanagement of Sh20 billion in two dam projects in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
The interrogation began at 5:45am on March 5, 2019, as Rotich arrived at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi. He faces scrutiny over authorizing payments to firms linked to the Kimwarer and Arror dam projects, which are central to the investigation into potential financial misconduct.
Rotich is accused of issuing directives to the National Land Commission to expedite land allocation for the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), which contracted Italian firms CMC di Ravenna and Itinera for the projects. Investigators are examining claims of kickbacks tied to the tenders.
This marks the second time Rotich has appeared before DCI investigators. KVDA Managing Director David Kimosop and multiple board members have also been questioned in the ongoing probe.
Earlier this week, Rotich defended the payments in a newspaper advertisement, stating that Sh19.8 billion had been disbursed by year-end 2018—contradicting Deputy President William Ruto's earlier assertion of only Sh7 billion paid. He claimed the funds were advance payments for project conditions prior to construction commencement.
