This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Published on August 26, 2019, the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal has been a contentious issue in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The dams, valued at Sh63 billion, have been stalled for years, and the blame game has now shifted to Governor Alex Tolgos and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.
According to Governor Tolgos, Senator Murkomen is using the county assembly to undermine his administration after he pointed out irregularities in the dams' construction. Tolgos claims that Murkomen is planning to impeach him through the county assembly to silence him after he spoke out against the corruption in the dams' scandal.
Senator Murkomen, however, has denied the allegations, saying that Tolgos is frustrated because a contractor he allegedly lobbied for in the Kimwarer and Arror projects submitted an unsuccessful bid. Murkomen also accused Tolgos of failing to attract investors to the county and instead working to deny residents important projects.
The dams scandal led to the arrest and suspension of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and his Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge, as well as several officials of the Kerio Valley Development Authority. The matter is now before the court.
