This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
Allegations of Corruption at Kenya Urban Roads Authority ¶
Kenya Urban Roads Authority has been embroiled in a multibillion-shilling scandal involving the awarding of road construction contracts to a single firm, Stecol Corporation.
According to sources, the contracts worth Sh19.20 billion will cover three counties: Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu.
Documents obtained by Nyakundi Report reveal that the contracts have been clustered into several projects, including the Kasarani-Mwiki-Njiru road, Kingara/James Gichuru Road, Limuru road, Red Hill road, Juja Farm road, and Kajiado town bypass.
Industry players have expressed surprise at the fact that Stecol Corporation has been involved in several high-profile projects, including the upgrading of Outering Road and the construction of a bridge at AllSops that will join Outering Road and Thika Superhighway.
Weekly Citizen has reported that Stecol Corporation was awarded most of the contracts in the so-called regeneration of 38 roads in Nairobi Eastlands.
Insiders within the authority claim that the plot was hatched to milk the Ruaraka overpass project by extending the project duration and inflating bills.
The project was initially supposed to be completed by July 18, 2019, but has been extended for two months, despite the authority claiming it is only a one-month extension.
Key masterminds behind the Kura road deals with Stecol Corporation are Ahmed Mohammed, acting director of urban road development, and Daniel Muchiri, the acting director of urban roads, planning, and design.
Engineer Mohammed and Engineer Muchiri are being blamed for the current mess at Ruaraka overpass, with allegations that they feature prominently in the controversial Nairobi Industrial Area road project that was awarded to a Nigerian firm, Regnolds Construction Company (RCC).
Documents reveal that the project is part of the Sh4.26 billion Eastern missing link roads, and that Kura officials colluded with rogue European Union officials to front RCC.
It is alleged that RCC won the lucrative tender despite having no experience in road projects in Kenya, and that the firm was paid upfront for the project by Kura.
The European Union is investigating why Kura decided to pay upfront for the project that has not been completed, and if a section of their staff are linked to the scandal.
Engineer Mohammed is also linked to controversy surrounding the multibillion bypass project in Meru town, costing Sh2.9 billion, with allegations that he and Abdul Rashid of Kura have been receiving kickbacks from the contractor.
According to sources, the costs of the Stecol project have been inflated since the firm will also undertake design work, including dualing, environmental, and socio-economic feasibility studies.
The contractor has been given a blank cheque on the project, with allegations that he influences almost every division in the project without an independent entity to oversee it.
