Jael Keya
Members of National Assembly have on Wednesday rejected government’s request for the allocation of more funds for the construction of the Kenya-Somalia border wall.
The MPs refused the reject on grounds that they want the resources directed to a “viable measure in the war against terrorism.”
This is after details emerged that the contractors had used Ksh3.3 billion to build a 10 kilometre stretch or Ksh300 million per kilometre.
“Before handing over of the project to the Ministry of Defence, the ministry had expended a total of Sh3, 380, 353, 960.52 as tabulated below,” stated a report tabled in the National Assembly.
In March 2018, the government suspended the construction of the 700 km security wall at the Mandera-Somalia border.
At the time, Mandera governor Ali Roba noted that the decision came after a consultative meeting with their Somali counterparts led by Gedo governor Mohammed Mahamud.
“We have agreed to temporarily halt the construction and border securitization pending the fate of about 64 houses that lie directly on the border,” the governor noted.
According to the initial plan, the houses had been marked for demolition to allow the construction of the wall.
Roba accused the Somali government of spreading propaganda concerning forceful evictions and the demolition of the houses.
The MPs move will, however, continue to derail the progress of the construction despite the government announcing a plan to fast-track the construction off the wall.
The wall was aimed at blocking all al Shabaab terrorists who enter Kenya through the porous border.
Upon completion, the wall was to be manned by Kenya Defense Forces soldiers who are already on the ground.
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