Corruption led to stalling of Umaa dam, MP Mulu decries calling for action

Alleging that misappropriation and diversion of the project funds had caused it to stall for 12 years, the MP asked government agencies to be wary and guard against a repeat of wanton theft of project funds.

“This time round no individual in this country should be allowed to take a single cent from Umaa dam. Any money set aside for Umaa dam must be spent for  the intended purpose. That is my plea so that we can get this dam completed,” said MP Mulu.

The legislator spoke on Tuesday when he hosted the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority board led by Chairperson Simon Kimaru. The NWHSA board had toured the project site to assess the progress of the work since a new contractor moved to site in January.

The Umaa project whose construction commenced in 2009 ran into  headwinds a year later in December 2010 when a row cropped up over the rising cost of the project. Sixty-eight percent of the works had been done at the time.

The MP said the only way to have the dam  whose intial  cost was KSh. 824 million completed was by safeguarding funds from thieves for the benefit of the local community. “When I see this dam completed, that will be the happiest day in my life. We have fought for revival of this dam that has been in this eyesore and unpleasant state for the last 12 years,” lamented  Mulu.

“Umaa dam is very important to us as residents of this area. It was one of the Vision 2030 flagship dam projects,” Mulu pointed out. He rued that misappropriation and misdirection of funds resulted to the stalling the project. He, however, said things were looking up for the Umaa dam project now that the  government had allocated funds to revive the projects through the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority.

“With the commitment to complete this dam project within two years, I want to assure you that you have the full support not only from me but the County Government of Kitui under Governor Dr. Julius Malombe,” the legislator told the NWHSA delegation.

Kimaru said Umaa dam was under the priority transformative agenda of the Kenya Kwanza government that was geared towards enhancing food security and water access to Kenyans. He said the government will invest a total of KSh. 1.9 million in order to complete the dam project within the next two years. He said Parliament has already allocated initial KSh. 250 million to kick-start the project. He added that the development partners had also expressed interest to come in and ensure that the project is successfully completed.