The African Development Bank Group has banned a Kenyan company, Joycot General Contractors Limited, from receiving any funding for 15 months.
In a statement on Monday, September 25, AfDB noted that debarment of the construction company was effective September 8, 2023.
Moreover, according to the multilateral lender, the move followed an investigation by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption, which found that Joycot General Contractors Ltd. engaged in fraudulent practices.
“During the debarment period, Joycot General Contractors Ltd. will be ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed activities,” AfDB stated.
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Further, the report added that the malpractices occurred during funding for the construction of reticulation sewers in Kahawa West in Kahawa Sukari.
The project in question was a component of the Nairobi Rivers Basin Rehabilitation and Restoration Program: Sewerage Improvement Project Phase II, Kenya.
Conditions for any Further Funding from AfDB
The African financier added that upon the completion of the debarment period, Joycot General Contractors will be expected to implement an integrity compliance program.
Further, AfDB stated that the funding compliance program will have to be consistent with the banks’ guidelines. Only then will the Kenyan company be eligible for financing from the African Development Bank Group.
The Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of the African Development Bank Group is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in Bank Group-financed operations.
Nairobi Rivers Basin Rehabilitation and Restoration Program
The program was initiated by the government to improve the access, quality, availability and sustainability of wastewater services in Nairobi City.
Additionally, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has been in the past championing for the restoration of the Nairobi River, including deploying a team of youths to clean and restore the water body.
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The water and sanitation sector goal are to contribute to the health and quality of life and reduce poverty levels of the population of Kenya through provision of water and sanitation services.
Moreover, the activities financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the project are the rehabilitation and construction of wastewater treatment facilities at Dandora.
In February 22, President William Ruto unveiled the Nairobi Rivers comission as a commitment to the integrity to the environment stating that it was a central feature of political, economic social and cultural life in Kenya.
“This state of affairs must come to an end and the unsafe and unhealthy environmental situation must be corrected to restore Nairobi to its true identity,” he noted at the time.
