Where did the money go? Senators demand full breakdown of Sh1.6 billion Dandora waste project
Eng. Kitheko Mutonga confirmed that the project involved building seven sewage ponds of 20,000 cubic metres capacity, valued at Sh1 billion, and a perimeter wall on 4,000 acres of land at a cost of Sh300 million.
Senators are demanding answers on how Sh1.6 billion was spent on the expansion of the Dandora Estate Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ruai, Nairobi County.
The project received Sh1.3 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year for the expansion works and Sh300 million for the construction of a perimeter wall.
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The expansion began in July 2021. According to Eng. Kitheko Mutonga, the then Acting Manager for Sewerage and Sanitation Works Development at Athi Water Works, the goal was to improve the capacity of the existing sewerage ponds to meet the needs of Nairobi’s growing population.
He confirmed that the project involved building seven sewage ponds of 20,000 cubic metres capacity, valued at Sh1 billion, and a perimeter wall on 4,000 acres of land at a cost of Sh300 million.
However, Senator John Methu has now led calls for full transparency on the project. In his statement to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, he demanded a complete expenditure report.
“This includes information on contract awards, the procurement process followed, key project milestones, and a value-for-money assessment,” he said.
The Nyandarua Senator also urged the committee to explain whether the plant’s capacity has improved.
“There should be clarification on the progress made to date and whether the facility’s sewage treatment capacity has increased in line with the project’s original objectives,” he said.
“I request a detailed explanation of the cost structure and justification for the wall, including design specifications, the identity of the contractor, and confirmation of whether the construction has been completed and certified,” Methu added, focusing on the perimeter wall.
He further questioned whether proper monitoring had been done during the project.
“We also need to know whether the Auditor-General reviewed the expenditures and verified that the funds were utilised in accordance with public finance management regulations,” the Senator added.
The committee has also been asked to confirm if the State Department for Public Works submitted regular reports to the Office of the Controller of Budget, in line with public accountability requirements.
Eng. Mutonga, back in 2021, had noted that Athi Water Works had received the funds from the government and was also preparing to start another large-scale pipeline project valued at Sh8.05 billion.
That project will run from Thika Dam to Gigiri tanks via a 55 km stretch and is separate from the Dandora expansion.
However, the Senate's current focus remains on the wastewater treatment plant, with senators pushing for answers and documentation to prove the money was spent properly.
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