One of the infrastructural projects that Jubilee Government has vouched for strongly is the development of the standard gauge railway that will run between Mombasa and Nairobi. Deemed a game changer in Kenya’s logistics, the project is now facing a new delay after the Parliament stopped the controversial Ksh3.7 billion contract awarded to a Chinese firm.
Citing improprieties in the procurement of the project, the Public Investment Committee (PIC) now wants Kenya Railways MD Atanas Maina and the firm’s tender committee probed by the anti-graft agency in what PIC calls ‘disregard of a parliament directive.’ They also want the contract cancelled.
The project will cost Kenyans Ksh447 billion and this has caused an uproar from civil society and political leaders who believe that the tender won by by Chinese firm Third Railway Survey and Design Institute (TSDI) Group is overpriced and involved underhand deals.
“The arrangement to have TSDI and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) both owned by the Chinese government shows lack of clear and truly independent supervision. We are not assured of quality,” said the committee, revealing that TSDI and CRBC are supervised by state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.
Kenya Railways gave TSDI the nod on June 3 this year and other two consultancy firms (Kenyan-based) with no experience in major railway projects.
“TSDI is only firm with experience in railway projects yet it’s doing only 30% to 40% of the consultancy contract and the other 60% will be performed by Apec Consortium and Edon Consortium. These two firms have not supervised any railway project and this has raised suspicion on the tendering process,” noted PIC.
The 472 kilometre rail will now have to wait and the delay will be a big blow to the government that has been setting the stage for the commencement of the production. Several base stations have already been set, like the Mariakani site which will comprise of a concrete mixing plant, a laboratory and a camp site for the staff. Similar camps are also set for Mtito Andei, Kathekani and Nairobi with similar facilities.
A standard gauge line has 5.6 inches between the rails and the Kenyan one is set to extend to Malaba and Uganda and eventually to Rwanda to create a seamless system linking the three countries.
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