- Just recently, in the supplementary budget, the National Treasury gave money to three critical lines indicated to be 90% complete
- There is need for erection of power lines to be above board
There are, indeed, serious problems with most of the projects undertaken by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company for lack of priority.
You find a power line is being constructed just because someone is a chairman of a committee or holds a plum post in government and has a farm several kilometres away that needs power.
Ketraco has been erecting lines that do not help Kenya Power and yet they should recoup some of these expenses by taking power where there is demand.
There are also many instances where budget requests are made for projects that are not commensurate with the portions of work reported as completed.
As a committee, when we decide not to give the projects money, you find Treasury and Budget committee still allocating funds. The question is; which role does the departmental committee play?
We have had instances where we have removed budgetary provisions for projects we know are complete but suddenly, the projects appear in the budget.
Just recently in the supplementary budget, the National Treasury gave money to three critical lines that had been indicated to be 90 per cent complete.
As a committee, we will recommend to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe lines we believe have problems of accountability.
There is need for erection of power lines to be above board. We hope the authorities will also help dismantle the cartels in the Energy ministry and National Treasury behind these questionable ventures.
Ketraco has been terminating contracts on grounds of financial capacity. The first question that comes is; did they evaluate the company for its technical and financial capacity? If so, then how come they get stuck in the middle of executing projects?
Furthermore, when they speak of termination, you find reports showing works are 80 per cent complete, and when you go to the ground you find the works at hardly 30 per cent. At times they say the evaluation is based on materials brought. But if someone has brought a tower and it is still at his yard, how does it amount to executed work?
In cases where contractors have done 80 per cent and contract terminated, you find Ketraco asking for millions in supplementary budget and many times re-advertise for 100 per cent of the works. We ask them if they have terminated works that were at 80 per cent, why not procure 20 per cent?
The Nakuru Town East MP and Energy committee chairman spoke to the Star