The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, has highlighted the complexity of an ongoing probe into multi-billion shilling dam projects in Kenya, citing involvement of senior officials and international entities. The investigation, now spanning six major projects including Kimwarer and Arror Dams, involves tracing over Sh21 billion in expenditures amid allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
Haji emphasized the need to track financial flows, stating, "We must get a handle on more than Sh21 billion that has already been paid out, trace where and to whom every shilling has been paid." The probe has drawn political attention, with Deputy President William Ruto accusing authorities of a "witch-hunt" while President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have publicly supported the investigation.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, who faced intensive questioning, is alleged to have implicated colleagues, a claim his lawyer Katwa Kigen denied. "It is not correct to say the CS implicated anyone," Kigen stated, clarifying that Rotich merely accounted for his actions. The investigation also uncovered ties to Italian contractor Cooperative Muratori e Cementisti (CMC Di Ravena), with investigators seeking CCTV footage of meetings in Italy.
Several projects, including Itare Dam and Embobut Multi-purpose Dam, remain stalled despite significant funding. The National Land Commission had gazetted 6,000 acres for developments, but procurement processes and commercial contracts remain under scrutiny. The probe has also intersected with 2019 census funding, as noted in related reports, highlighting broader governance challenges.
