Former Principal Secretaries, past Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) chief executives, and other senior energy sector officials are facing scrutiny as Parliament investigates billions of shillings paid out in wayleave compensation.
The inquiry follows concerns raised over Sh17.02 billion in compensation payments, prompting the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to launch a comprehensive investigation.
Lawmakers have summoned the current Principal Secretary, former accounting officers, and previous KETRACO executives to explain compensation disbursements made over a 13-year period. A serving governor is also expected to appear before the committee.
The investigation is based on a Special Audit Report that examined wayleave compensation payments linked to seven donor-funded electricity transmission projects implemented between the 2010-11 and 2022-23 financial years.
PAC Chairperson and Butere MP Tindi Mwale said the committee resolved to summon the officials after Principal Secretary Alex Wachira failed to appear before lawmakers to respond to issues highlighted in the forensic audit.
“As a committee, we are determined to establish the legitimacy of the compensation claims and determine whether the projects delivered value for money to Kenyans,” Mwale said.
According to the audit findings, the compensation programme was allocated Sh17.02 billion, of which Sh4.03 billion remains unpaid despite the projects spanning more than a decade.
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Members of Parliament expressed concern over both the magnitude of the payments and the prolonged implementation period, raising questions about oversight mechanisms, claim verification procedures, and project management practices.
The committee has since expanded the investigation to include all former Principal Secretaries and accounting officers who were responsible for the projects during the review period.
“We want every official who oversaw these projects at different stages to appear before the committee and account for the decisions made during their tenure,” Mwale directed.
The probe centres on compensation paid to landowners whose properties were affected by the construction of high-voltage power transmission lines. Such payments are intended to compensate individuals for granting access to their land for electricity infrastructure development.
However, auditors flagged concerns over whether all recipients qualified for compensation and whether the amounts paid accurately reflected their entitlements, prompting further scrutiny by lawmakers.
The projects under review are among Kenya’s largest regional power infrastructure initiatives and were funded by development partners to enhance electricity connectivity and strengthen power supply across East Africa.
They include the Ethiopia-Kenya Transmission Line, Kenya-Tanzania Transmission Line, and Kenya-Uganda Transmission Line projects.
Also under examination are the Kenya Power Transmission System Improvement Project, the Turkwel-Ortum-Kitale Transmission Line, the Olkaria-Lessos Transmission Line, and the Nairobi Ring Road Transmission Line.
The inquiry aims to establish how the billions of shillings allocated for compensation were managed throughout the lifespan of the projects, with both current and former officials expected to account for actions and decisions taken under their stewardship.
