Kabarnet — The National Assembly departmental committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation has raised concerns over the stalled Kirandich phase 2 project, which is under the Central Rift Water Works Development Authority (CRWWDA).

According to Kenya News Agency, who chairs the committee, the project has been ongoing for seven years with only 15% completion despite Sh271 million already being paid to the Italian contractor, Cospin.

The committee was on a fact-finding mission in Baringo, examining water and irrigation projects. Bowen criticized the government for continuing to service a loan for the project without providing any benefits to taxpayers. He questioned the claimed 15% completion, especially considering the total project cost is Sh2.1 billion. “Where is the 15 per cent works done? We are not seeing,” said Bowen, who dismissed the contractor’s attempts to blame COVID-19 for the delays.

At Cospin’s site in Kabarnet Town, the MPs noted that the machinery on site was insufficient for a project of this scale. Committee member Charity Kathambi expressed concern about the lack of progress, stating that the project was initiated to benefit Kenyans but has yet to do so. Acting CEO of CRWWDA, CPA Douglas Murei, assured the committee that the contractor has resolved past issues and is now serious about the project. Murei said that the Italian government, through its ambassador, has expressed commitment and granted a no-objection approval within a day.

The committee also examined the project’s sustainability, questioning the Sh6 million monthly electricity costs to pump water from the treatment plant to the 6000-litre reservoir at Kabarnet town, given that the company only raises Sh1.5 million in water sales. During a visit to the Baringo Governor’s office, Bowen mentioned that the committee is assessing the delayed project for inclusion in the upcoming supplementary budget.

The team also reviewed other projects in the region, such as the Perkerra irrigation scheme in Marigat and the Chemususu dam in Eldama Ravine, which they deemed satisfactory except for delays related to financial disbursement. The committee disclosed a new initiative for using Lake Baringo water for irrigation and announced an initial budget allocation increase from Sh65 million to Sh100 million for the Komolion irrigation project in Tiaty.

The contractor pledged to complete the project within 18 months if everything proceeds as planned. The Kirandich dam, initially constructed in 1994 through an Italian conditional loan, has experienced delays in its second phase, which involves pipeline extension to neighboring towns and a sewer component, since 2002.