Italian Company CMC di Ravenna Denies Role in Sh19 Billion Arror-Kimwarer Dams Scandal

Italian construction company CMC di Ravenna, which faces charges in the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal, has denied playing any role in the loss of billions of shillings in the two projects.

In a statement on Tuesday, CMC di Ravenna denied claims by Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji that the company refused to cooperate with the investigators.

“The company is already working with the Kenyan judicial authority to settle the matter as soon as possible," CMC di Ravenna said in its statement.

Kenyan authorities are seeking the extradition of one of the company’s directors to face corruption charges in Nairobi.

On Tuesday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich was released on a cash bail of Sh15 million after pleading not guilty to corruption charges in connection with the loss of funds in contracts related to the planned construction of the two multi-purpose dams.

Rotich is among 26 suspects facing graft charges related to the Arror and Kimwarer dams’ scandal.

Prosecutors said CMC di Ravenna colluded with Kenyan officials to inflate the cost of building the two dams in Elgeyo-Marakwet County to Sh63 billion from an initial cost of Sh46 billion.

However, CMC di Ravenna denied taking part in the scheme that led to the loss of taxpayers' cash totaling to Sh19 billion.

“The accusation would refer, in fact, to the conditions of the financing, by banks of primary international standing, of the public works contracted by Kenya to CMC,” the company said.

“CMC and its representatives did not participate in the negotiations,” the company said.