Kipchumba Murkomen, an Elgeyo Marakwet senator, has expressed concern about the secret agreements made in connection with the construction of the Sh450 billion standard gauge railway (SGR) line project.
Murkomen, the nominated cabinet minister for Roads, Transport, and Public Works, has stated that he will investigate the secret agreements and address public concerns.
“In my preparation to come to this committee, I spoke to everybody whom I thought was a person of influence and none would tell me they have ever seen the SGR agreements. The agreement has become opaque,” Murkomen said.
“So my first responsibility when I get to offices is to find where the agreement is and give it to the people of Kenya through parliament. Why are we hiding.”
Murkomen spoke during his vetting appearance before the National Assembly on Wednesday.
He was responding to MP Mishi’s question about whether the Mombasa Port had been used as a guarantee in the SGR contract.
“If the Port has been used as a guarantee, we leave knowing that as we manage the SGR and port, we know our exposure,” Murkomen said.
Despite court orders, the government has not released information about the SGR project’s financing, tendering process, or construction to the public.
In May, the Mombasa High Court ordered the government to provide two activists with agreements relating to the SGR project’s construction.
