Kenya is seeking help from Beijing to resolve a vicious tender row pitying two Chinese companies over Sh 20billion Soin-Koru dam.
Water and Irrigation principal secretary Joseph Irungu confirmed the report and said the country is already triggered bilateral talks with China to inform authorities to intervene and resolve the stalemate pitying China Gezhouba and China Jiangxi.
“I have held bilateral talks with the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also engaged authorities in China to inform them of the danger of dragging this matter. The games these companies are playing is delaying us. I have made attempts to save this project which is dear to the people of Kisumu,” said Mr Irungu.
Soin-Koru dam
The PS further urged Foreign Affairs ministry to fast-track the process of resolving the stalemate given the significance of the project. Construction of the multipurpose Soin-Koru dam is yet to start three years down the line. The project, straddling Kericho and Kisumu counties, is targeted at controlling floods when Nyando River overflows.
The delayed 93.7 million cubic metre-dam will be five kilometres upstream River Nyando from Muhoroni town. On completion, the dam is set to transform the lives of residents through agriculture and industrialisation.
Jiangxi Economic Cooperation won the tender for construction of the dam along flood prone River Nyando. China Gezhouba, which placed a Sh19.2 billion bid, moved to the procurement review board to contest award of the tender to China Jiangxi citing irregularities in the tendering process.
