Probe launched into Sh96m forest fence
Kenya Forest service rangers display a map of Marmanet forest in Nyahururu in the past. The anti-graft agency is investigating the Sh96.7 million electric fence that the Laikipia county government is erecting around Marmanet Forest to end perennial cases of human-wildlife conflict. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In a July 27 letter, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission asked the county government to furnish it with original documents pertaining to the award of the fence project.
- Among the documents that the agency is seeking are 2014/2015 procurement plans, approved 2014/2015 budgets, requisition and approval for the projects, engineer’s estimates and tender advertisements.
The anti-graft agency is investigating the Sh96.7 million electric fence that the Laikipia county government is erecting around Marmanet Forest to end perennial cases of human-wildlife conflict.
In a July 27 letter, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission asked the county government to furnish it with original documents pertaining to the award of the fence project.
“This commission is conducting investigations into allegations of irregularities in the award and performance of the above tender by the county government of Laikipia,” the letter from EACC’s central region office in Nyeri says in part.
Among the documents that the agency is seeking are 2014/2015 procurement plans, approved 2014/2015 budgets, requisition and approval for the projects, engineer’s estimates and tender advertisements.
Others are bid documents, minutes of tender opening, evaluation and site visit committees, attendance registers, and award or regret letters to the bidders and invoices and payment vouchers.
The issues surrounding the fence emerged in the county assembly last year when MCAs trashed the project saying it was not helping farmers living near the forest as elephants were still invading their farms.
However, agriculture and natural resources committee which was tasked with investigating the project has not presented a report to the assembly committee despite chairman Paul Leshuel confirming that it was ready.
MCAs had raised issues with the procurement details which they said were not clear.
Marmanet Ward Representative and infrastructure committee chairman Francis Mukuria said while the county government puts the length of the fence as 56 kilometres, a physical survey had established that it is 46 kilometres as some sections already had a fence.
The members were reacting to a statement by Githiga Ward Rep Peter Thomi who wanted to know the measures that have been taken to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
Igwamiti MCA Joseph Kabaci said elephants were jumping over some parts of the fence and despite the evaluation committee opposing it, the county went ahead to pay the contractor.
