MPs to begin probe on planned investment deals at Railways City amidst extortion claims

The Trade,Industry,and Cooperatives Committee is scheduled to look into various complaints raised by potential investors into the donor funded multi-billion Kenya Railway City project.

This follows a series of petitions on the tendering processes for various projects listed for United Kingdom and World Bank sponsored project.

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) partnered with the World Bank in a project to decongest the Nairobi transport system to facilitate smooth, sustainable, and efficient flow of traffic.

At the same time,the British Government Committed to disburse funds-esrimated between Sh12 billion and Sh28 billion-for the redevelopment of land around Nairobi Central Railways Station into a modern, sustainable urban space known as Railway City.

Parliament will now engage Kenya Railways and the Ministry of Transport to unpack the entire implementation roadmap.

The committee chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali is set to welcome Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga, Principal Secretaries Juma Mukwana( Industry),Hassan Abubakar ( Investment Promotion),and Regina Ombam for grilling.

Civic Rights groups have previously called for the project to be halted until Kenya Railways under Phillip Mainga pronounces itself on tender irregularities that have raised.

Some of the tenders that have come to the spotlight over alleged canvasing and bribery involving senior people in government include; supply and delivery of building,rail track track maintainance material,supply,delivery and commisioning of weigh bridges,supply and delivery of locomotives and DMU filters.

Women,Youths and People Living with Disabilities have also complained of being left in the tendering process. A Human Rights Group wants Mr .Mainga probe for violating the PFM act.

Meanwhile KRC is still under siege over the disputed land reportedly purchased from the Dupoto/ Darfur Settlement Welfare Scheme,yet MPs were stunned to learn the transaction proceeded without verified proof of ownership.

KRC had in the past three years run into controversial encounters with investors,suppliers and investigative agencies.