MPs query tender for mega irrigation plan
What you need to know:
- The NIB officials told committee members that in their proposal before the award of the consultancy, Agri-Green proposed the 10,000-acre model farm to test the technologies to be recommended, and specifically the government’s concept of the development of the Galana-Kulalu project.
MPs have questioned the National Irrigation Board following the award of a Sh14.2 billion Galana-Kulalu model farm contract.
The contract for the development of the model farm was awarded to Israel’s Green Arava. The Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project deal was signed on Wednesday.
The lawmakers sought to know why and how the tender was awarded without competitive tendering.
The farm consists of an irrigation system complete with green houses, pumping stations, a logistical centre, agricultural machinery among others.
The project is meant to test the irrigation model that will see a million acres of the Galana and Kulalu ranches — in Kilifi and Tana River counties — put under irrigation.
Yesterday, members of the National Assembly’s Agriculture Committee grilled NIB’s management led by general manager Daniel Barasa following concerns that the contractor had earlier conducted a feasibility study for the board on the food security project.
Green Arava is the parent company of Agri-Green Consultants, the experts who were retained to carry out the study. The firm undertook a Sh920 million consultancy on the irrigation technologies for the million-acre project.
TEST THE TECHNOLOGIES
The NIB officials told committee members that in their proposal before the award of the consultancy, Agri-Green proposed the 10,000-acre model farm to test the technologies to be recommended, and specifically the government’s concept of the development of the Galana-Kulalu project.
The irrigation team said it went for direct procurement of the contractor due to the urgent need to develop the ranch for food production.
However, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandai said procurement laws were flouted and asked NIB to present to the committee consultancy agreements for scrutiny.
Mr Barasa said the deal was awarded to Green Arava of Israel because the government was giving Sh3.5 billion for the project with the Israeli Government providing Sh11 billion.
Committee chairman Noor Mohammed directed the board to give details on the irrigation project.
The MPs also demanded that Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei attends the next meeting to respond to questions relating to the project, among other things.
