Mutula calls out Murkomen ‘lies’ on Sh7.8b Thwake dam construction
Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen was on Wednesday called out on Twitter over his claims on the construction of Thwake dam in Makueni county.
In a tweet, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator posted a photo of a bush which he claimed to be the site of the stalled Thwake dam in Makueni county where Sh7.8 billion was paid in advance.
He wondered how far investigations by Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) had reached on alleged misappropriation of funds for the project.
“This is the site of Thwake Dam in Makueni County where 7.8B advance payment was made 3 years ago. How far is the @DCI_Kenya with investigations? We will not allow discrimination as long as we are still in a country called Kenya,” he tweeted.
This is the site of Thwake Dam in Makueni County where 7.8B advance payment was made 3 years ago. How far is the @DCI_Kenya with investigations ? We will not allow discrimination as long as we are still in a country called Kenya. pic.twitter.com/YnoL0j0vnr
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) April 3, 2019
The tweet did not go down well with his Makueni counterpart Mutula Kilonzo Junior.
Mutula fired back by saying the picture Murkomen had posted was not the site of the dam.
“I am embarrassed to inform you that picture on your post is not the site of the dam. The Thwake dam is at the confluence of two rivers – Athi River and Thwake River. I thought you should know,” Mutula said.
I am embarrassed to inform you that picture on your post is not the site of the dam . The Thwake dam is at the confluence of two rivers – Athi River and Thwake River . I thought you should know
— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) April 3, 2019
For avoidance of doubt ,I have BQs, project proposal , EISA report and schedule of payments to majority PAPs and a letter showing why the balance is yet to be paid . Tell me where to drop the dossier
— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) April 3, 2019
To save face, an embarrassed Murkomen answered by saying that he was happy that Mutula had added more facts.
“I am glad you have not controverted anything. You have just added more facts.”
I am glad you have not controverted anything. You have just added more facts
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) April 3, 2019
The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator has been vocal in claiming a political scheme in DCI’s investigation on the whereabouts of Sh21 billion meant for construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams.
Last month he issued a statement raising concern that the construction of the two dams had attracted undue attention from the media and the DCI while there were other projects across the country that were more expensive and had taken a longer time to commence.
He gave an example of the water pipeline from Thika Dam to Kigoro and Gigiri – a Sh6 billion project – whose contractors had received an advance payment of Sh1.2 billion but was yet to commence work.