NEWS

How “fake” road contracts in Mandera North is causing grim security situation

Published

7 months ago

October 10, 2023

NAIROBI—Reports of ten fictitious road projects in Mandera North Constituency is causing a grim security situation in the area.

According to one high ranking administrator who spoke to Kulan Post in confidence, the petition last week by Mohamed Kalimoi challenging the procurement process of ten Kenya Rural Roads Authority(KeRRA) in Mandera North and Banisa constituencies has created “mistrust and finger-pointing” among the local clans in the area.

“It (clan clashes) always starts from such unresolved marginalization by those who have control over the resources,” the administrator noted, adding that: ” It carries the potential to morphe into a full blown clan clashes and resentment.”

Since the news of the petition came into light, several meetings were held by the residents of the affected areas such as those who reside along Guticha – Shandarmot road, Guticha – Makutano road and Guticha- Guba road.

In another such meetings, the clans who reside along Bambo- Guticha road also held similar meetings. In the meetings, the locals questioned why they were not engaged in the project identification and need. They also wondered why, if at all the projects are slated to be implemented, there has been no sight visit in mid September as indicated in the advert.

Besides monitoring the outcomes of such meetings, the Mandera security apparatus are frustrated by the trends, saying insurgent groups such as Al-Shabab use the “marginalization tag” to recruit new members. Lately, the government has upscaled bid to foster a working relationship between the security apparatus and local communities amid surge in terror activities in the region, particularly in Mandera County.

BREAKING: Road projects in Mandera North and Guba ward in Banisa constituencies are on the verge being cancelled throuth a court order after a local petitioner raised concern over “fake” contracts dished to politically well connected individuals. https://t.co/WtGE5CQ4Jg

— Kulan Post (@kulanpost) October 4, 2023

The Petition

Last week, through a request addressed to the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, Mohamed Abbey Kalimoi, a residents of Mandera North constituency insisted that the recent tenders advertised by Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra) flouted several procurement laws and procedures. He stated that the projects advertised comprised of several non-existence roads; one road advertised in two different tenders while others are listed in both 4th November, 2022 and 23rd September, 2023 tender notices.

Kalmoi is similarly pursuing a court injuction pending determination of audited report of “all the road projects in the last four financial years.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen in a past function. (Courtesy)

In a separate letter, Kalmoi charged the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen to take action against “a powerful individual in the Kenya Roads Board who’s the main beneficiary of the said tenders.”

The Kenya Roads Board was established by an act of parliament in 1999, with the mandate to oversee the Road network in Kenya and coordinate the maintenance, rehabilitation and development using Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).

In April this year, President William Ruto appointed former Wajir West legislator Ahmed Kolosh as the Chairperson of the Board for a period of three years.

Mandera North professionals say they support a petition by a resident seeking High Court to halt ten road projects by KeRRA for flouting procurement laws. pic.twitter.com/YTfHbWJ6Ra

— Mohamed Kalimoi (@MohamedKalimoi) October 7, 2023

Through a press release on Sunday, Mandera North professionals have also voiced their concern.

“Whereas we support any shred of development for our people and the region, we equally oppose anything that objects and jeopardize the growth of the same,” the letter said on part.

It added: “We also call upon His Excellency William Samoei Ruto and his administration to take the needful action and suspend the scoundrel officers in KeRRA and KRB who are against the letter and spirit of zero tolerance to corruption policy.”

On 22nd September, State House Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei has directed the Athi Water Works Development Agency Board to suspend its CEO Michael Thuita pending graft investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Likewise, he has also asked the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency Board to suspend its CEO Samuel Oruma over similar accusations involving the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation System for Bomet, Longisa and Mulot towns projects within the jurisdiction of the agency.

“Mr Koskei says the inordinate delay in taking action on the part of the board of directors and the ministry is undermining the government’s war against corruption,” read a statement from State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.