Shock as Gov't Spends Sh3.4 Billion to Erect 10Km Wire Fence Along Kenya-Somalia Border

The government is on the spot following revelations of a new scandal involving more than Sh3 billion.

It has been revealed that the Ministry of Defense spent a staggering Sh3.4 billion to erect a 10-kilometer wire mesh wall along the Kenya-Somalia border.

Revelations about the amount of money used to build the wall meant to keep out Al-Ahaabab militants has been revealed in a report tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

This means that Sh300 million was spent for every kilometer of the security barrier made up of a chain link, razor barbed wire, and concrete poles, the Standard reports.

The idea to erect the wall was approved by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) in 2015 following increased cases of Al-Shabaab invasion.

The project was initially to be undertaken by the Ministry of Interior but was handed over to the Ministry of Defense following a directive by the President. 

“Before handing over of the project to the Ministry of Defense, the ministry had expended a total of Sh3, 380, 353, 960.52 as tabulated below,” states the report.

The report indicates that Sh887 million were disbursed to the Ministry of Defence for the wall in 2014/2015 financial year, Sh306 million in the 2015/2016 financial year and Sh578 million in the 2016/2017 financial year.

The Standard reports that Sh1.5 billion was reallocated to the Ministry of Defense after the transfer of the project.

The Ministry of Defense had earlier estimated that the entire project would be completed at a cost of Sh8 billion. 

The money was to be spent on three sections of the 700km wall namely; the Northern stretch (Sh3.5 billion) covering 160km, Southern (Sh2.6 billion) stretching 105km, and Central (Sh1.8 billion) covering 445km.

Members of Parliament have raised questions on the viability of the project and now want the investigating authorities to look into the expenditure.

“The chair of the committee must bring a recommendation to this report to say that there is no value for money and that Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and DCI must investigate,” National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale says.

“Kenya should not be funding the construction of such a wall but investing in intelligence-gathering technology to limit attacks caused by Al-Shabaab,” Minority Leader John Mbadi says.