Stop all the noise and work, says President on rail project

President Uhuru Kenyatta.

By MOSES NJAGIH

Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the construction of the standard gauge railway (SGR) will proceed, despite criticism that has prompted a probe by a parliamentary watchdog committee.

The Head of State said that no amount of “noise making” would stop the biggest infrastructural project in the country’s history.

Apparently incensed by allegations of impropriety in the procurement of the multi-billion shillings project, now the subject of investigation by the House Public Investment Committee, the President declared that there would be no going back. Parliament’s Transport committee is also conducting a parallel probe.

Press conference

“There comes an hour when the noise must stop, and the work must begin. We are at that hour,” said Kenyatta at a press conference at State House. Deputy President William Ruto and the entire Cabinet flanked him, in a show of unity by the Jubilee Administration, which has faced internal strife over the deal with the Chinese Government.

The president sought to set the record straight on the cost of the project following conflicting figures by his officials saying the contract sum is Sh327 billion for the 609km rail.

Without expounding, the President said bitter local and international commercial interest groups were sabotaging the project after losing out on the lucrative deal.

He challenged those who have information on any aspects that they feel are questionable to appear before the parliamentary committees investigating the matter and give their evidence “or come to me, tell me where the problem is.”

The President said those challenging the project must do so on the basis of facts and table their evidence.

He further said those who had lost the bid were now keen on frustrating it.

Parliamentary committees

“We must stop this culture we have developed that if one loses a bid, then he has to employ every trick to stop the project. If you lose a bid fair and square, move on but do not stop the transformation agenda,” he said.

He added: “It is good to compete, and I encourage it, but let them know that their interests do not supersede that of the majority Kenyans”.

He declared that the Government would not be delayed in taking the opportunity granted by the Chinese Government — which is funding the bulk of the project — and fall to the schemes of those serving their selfish interests or the interests of partisanship.

Kenyatta particularly singled out businessmen, parliamentarians and members of civil society, urging them to consider the larger interests of Kenyans, which he said overrides any other.

The multi-billion project has been a subject of controversy since the tender was awarded to China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CBRC), resulting in two parliamentary committees opening investigations into how the Chinese parastatal was contracted.

 Critics appearing before the two parliamentary committees’ hearings have claimed that the right procurement procedures were not followed in awarding the tender, but government officials have insisted that the award was above-board. They said due process was followed as the matter was a Government-to-Government deal.

President Uhuru maintained that position, insisting that due process was conducted in awarding the tender.

“What we know is that we have followed the laws here and in China. We have investigated the capability of the company to handle such a project and the China government has confirmed that,” he said.

The President added: “We believe in their word. No one is better placed to give us that verdict than the China government.”

Uhuru cautioned that if Kenya does not make haste and take advantage of the funding of the project by the China government, the same could be diverted to another country. He emphasised the magnitude of the funding, disclosing that it amounted to 20 per cent of what China was pumping into Africa.

Uhuru maintained that the cost of the railway line construction was Sh327 billion, adding that the other costs — including the buying of land where the railway line will pass and for the construction of a container depot — would be borne by the Kenya Government.

The President said the Government-to-Government arrangement was entered into during the former administration, but said his government was eager to expedite the process they see as a major key to unlock Kenya’s potential.

Refute claims

“We took over the project from where we found it and it was one of the main agenda that took me to China in July last year. We have followed the plan as per our agreement with China.

“We embraced it as our own, fully acknowledging its transformative role in our economy. We have detailed timeframes for the delivery of this railway. We intend to meet those time-frames,” he said.

The President’s press conference was attended by all his cabinet secretaries, with Kenyatta insisting that those seeking more information can get answers from line members of the Cabinet. Attorney-General Githu Muigai denied ever challenging the procurement process of the tender, insisting that an opinion that he had given to the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) and which the PIC has been relying on to claim that his advice was ignored in the tendering process, was not particularly on the SGR. “At no time did the AG express any reservations on this tender. The opinion was quoted out of context,” said Prof Muigai.