Activist Okiya Omtata in court to suspend Sh6.5b water tunnel project
Two activists have gone to court seeking to suspend the contract for the Sh6.8 Northern Collector Water Tunnel.
Mr Okiya Omtata and Ms Florence Kanyua have sued the Athi Water Services Board and its officers over the award of the multi-billion tender to China State Corporation Limited.
The two activists claim that the award was awarded irregularly and that the contract set to kick off next month was secretly signed.
They also accuse Athi Water of being involved in mismanagement of funds as well as infighting.
They allege that the contract was signed by the board’s chief executive when he was on leave and that there are no records to track how the said contract was awarded.
High Court Judge Joseph Onguto has directed that parties in the suit to appear in court on October 26 for further directions.
The two activists were also directed to file further documents to back up their case.
The Sh6.8 billion project, on completion, will be able to supply Nairobi residents with an additional 140,000 cubic metres.
Cord leader Raila Odinga had last week accused the government of secretly implementing the project, which he said risked turning five counties that share the River Tana into deserts.