Senate Summons World Bank Boss, Governor Over Stalled Water Project
The Senate Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources has taken action on the stalled Ksh24.8 million Changara Water Pan project, summoning key authorities for explanations.
Those summoned include the World Bank Country Director and Busia Governor Paul Otuoma.
Others include Patrick Wanjiku, Director-General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, and Abdi Ahmed, CEO of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“The purpose of this letter is to invite you to a meeting of the Committee scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 22,” the letter read in part.
“The Committee is presently considering a Petition on the Changara Water Pan, a World Bank-funded project in Busia County.”
Following the petition I filed in 2023 regarding the stalled Changara Water Pan project, a World Bank-funded initiative worth KSh 24.8 million meant to provide clean water and irrigation to over 5,000 households in Changara, Busia, the Senate is now taking action.
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) May 16, 2025
The Committee… pic.twitter.com/pXBBeU9KYB
The project, which was intended to bring water to over 5,000 Busia residents, has been delayed, raising worries about mismanagement and potential corruption.
The committee’s summons comes after Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah filed a petition in 2023 for members to visit the project site.
The unscheduled visit on April 30 revealed unsettling findings that have continued to create delays in the project.
“At its sitting held on 10th April 2025, the Committee considered the Petition during its site visit to the Changara Water Pan, Busia County, and resolved to invite you for a meeting to respond to the matters raised in the Petition,” the letter continued.
According to Omtatah, the investigations indicated anomalies in the tender awarding process.
There was a conflict of interest in awarding the tender to a relative of the then-sitting Member of the County Assembly (MCA).
“Lack of transparency in procurement and denial of public oversight documents,” Omtatah revealed.
“Technical malpractice, including leaking, exposed pipes, and dangerously shallow barriers. The public was also not involved in a project meant for them.”
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The senator has stated that the Senate would continue to investigate the subject until accountability and justice are established, as part of the ongoing effort to restore public sector integrity.
The Changara Water Pan Project is part of Kenya’s larger initiatives to improve water security and agricultural activities, specifically under the Climate Smart Agriculture Programme.
The project was originally slated to be finished in February 2020, with the following phases extending into August and November 2020.
However, delays have slowed its progress for more than three years, generating alarm from stakeholders.
Senate Summons World Bank Boss, Governor Over Stalled Water Project
