Italian firm in dams scandal relocates from Nairobi office

CMC di Ravenna, the Italian contractor at the centre of the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal, has deserted its premises in Nairobi which it shared with Itinera SPA - the venture partner in the deal.

Reports also indicated that an arrest warrant has been issued against CMC chief executive Paolo Porcelli, according to the Il Resto del Carlino newspaper.

Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji had on Monday indicated that Kenya would be seeking Porcelli’s extradition to face charges in Nairobi.

An official at CMC's former offices in Nairobi’s Westpark Tower said the firm had relocated while its senior managers had traveled back home to Italy.

“CMC is no longer based here and the staff working in this office are all employees of Itinera,” said the front office assistant who declined to give her name.

Itinera currently does not have any projects in Kenya.

On Tuesday, CMC said it had only learnt of the investigations into the dams scandal from the media because the company had not been formally approached by the Kenyan authorities.

But the company yesterday said it was cooperating with the authorities. In a statement, the firm said that the accusation leveled against it and its chief executive related to the “conditions of the financing, by banks of primary international standing, of the public works contracted by Kenya to CMC”.

“CMC and its representatives did not participate in the negotiations,” it said.