Wrangles put Sh10bn ICT project in peril

In the arrangement, the government was to provide land and put up infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity and fibre optic cables among others.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has been appointed the lead advisor for the project and among its mandates is to identify a master builder who will come up with a virtual plan.

Next month an IFC consultants will in the country to present a number of studies, including, environmental, social impact, feasibility among others.

Dr Ndemo, however, says consultants are afraid that nothing will happen on the ground if the wrangles continue.

In mid May, the master builder is supposed to present the virtual plan and in August the master contractor starts the actual begins work.

The first dispute arose last year in November when a consultancy firm called Gateway allegedly demanded a payment of Sh286 million as commission fees for facilitating the sale of land between the government and the land owners of Malili Ranch.

One group of land owners has opposed the commission fees claims by Gateway saying the firm did not render any services to warrant the payment.

The group opposed to the payments claims that those supporting disbursement of the commission fees are seeking to benefit through their links to the consultancy firm.