While the Deputy President William Ruto and Elgeyo senator Murkomen are struggling to save the Arror and Kimwarer dams completion despite the huge financial set poised by graft allegations,another dam construction is calling for alarm in financial shortage that it has.
The government has only provided funding for the first phase in a report tabled by Majority leader Aden Duale
Only Sh 42.3 billion has been factored in the budget for the first phase with Ouko saying the government is yet to negotiate or look for financiers for the three remaining phases.
Auditor General Edward Ouko has questioned the expenditure of Sh 1.56 billion in the first phase of the Sh 82.2 billion Thwake dam project in Makueni.
Also questioned is the discrepancy in payment between the figures captured in the National Treasury’s State Department of Irrigation IFMIS Appropriations Account and those captured in the physical receipts
Ouko also raised the red flag over the land that was supposed to be compensated to make room for the project. Owners of 77 out of 1,792 parcels were not compensated even though the government released Sh 1.3 billion to the National Land Commission.
The project is to be implemented in four phases. It is being undertaken on 9,158 acres. Some 1,792 households in Makueni and Kitui counties have been compensated for their land to pave the way for its implementation.
Ouko says the dam could stall for lack of funds. He says the government has only provided funding for the first phase.