EACC Detectives Probe World Bank Water Project Over Alleged Fund Misappropriation

Anti graft sleuths are expected to apprehend those found culpable to face criminal justice.

By Adieri Mulaa

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission are investigating a case in which money donated by the World Bank for construction of a community water pan in Fafi Constituency was allegedly misappropriated.

The case involving Harbole Water Pan is now on the radar of the anti graft agency following complaints by members of the Harbole community and contractors who felt shortchanged in the tender process.

Forensic investigations are underway to unearth the alleged misappropriation of money to the tune of Kshs 6.2 million that was donated by the World Bank for construction of a community water pan in Harbole.

Sources told The Times a special team of detectives from the Integrity Centre in Nairobi (EACC headquarters) has been dispatched to Garissa to probe the alleged misappropriation of donor funds and a flawed tender.

The anti graft sleuths are expected to apprehend those found culpable to face criminal justice. The detectives are said to be following leads on the tender process and misappropriation of the donor funding.

The World Bank agency office in Garissa is said to have disbursed the funds to a contractor to dig a new water pan. However, the area residents claim no such a project was ever undertaken.

They say a contractor who was awarded the tender instead undertook de-siltation of an existing water pan which was dug more than 10 years ago.

Members of the community have recorded statements citing a flawed tender process among other pieces of evidence the residents have handed to the EACC to aid investigations.

The residents further claim they raised their concerns with the World Bank representative in Garissa, Mr Mohamed Farah, urging him to visit the site before the payment was made but no action was taken.

Community elders are reported to have also recorded statements with the Garissa County Criminal Investigations Office regarding the water pan project.

On 30th August, 2022 four contractors wrote to the chairman of Harbole Water Pan Community Project Management Committee to raise their grievances over the tender process.

In the letter which The Times is privy to, the contractors raised several concerns, citing a breach of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

They claimed the tender notice was not placed in public domain or even publicized in the Harbole Community Project Management Committee office as would be the case.

The letter is copied to the EACC Garissa office and the Regional Coordinator, Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impact Project – KDRDIP.

“There is no evidence that an advert was placed elsewhere within Fafi Sub County”, the contractors say in their letter.

It further says there was no tender box placed outside the Community Project Management Committee office right from the purported date of advertisement to the closure of the tender.

The contractors also accuse Harbole Community Project Management Committee chairman of having exhibited selective discrimination on which contractor would access the tender box.

However, on 3rd November, 2022 the chairman of Harbole Water Pan Community Project Management Committee, Mr Salah Hussein Ali wrote to the EACC requesting the agency to investigate the Harbole Water Pan Project.