The Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP) has called on relevant authorities, led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to move with speed and investigate claims that Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi is frustrating investors by demanding crazy bribes.
The calls from the professional body come a few days after Tatu City accused the Governor of demanding a whopping 4.3 billion shillings as a s bribe to approve projects within the planned state-of-the-art city. The Governor was also accused of demanding at least 40 acres of land as a bribe for himself.
“In the past few days, the country witnessed a contestation in development approval involving the County Government of Kiambu and Tatu City, a private developer that is located within Ruiru Municipality, Kiambu County. This has painted our country negatively in the face of prospective investors,” said the professional body.
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According to the body, actions by the County Government of Kiambu led by Wamatangi are derailing key projects that would have otherwise earned the country revenue in billions annually as well as create employment for thousands of Kenyans within and without the county.
“We sympathize with the developers who are crying foul on allegations of “extortion” and delayed “approval of plans. We invite the relevant agencies such as the DCI, DPP, and the EACC, to deal swiftly and decisively with these claims of extortion against investors in our country. We are especially concerned with the allegations of delays in approval of plans which occasion profound frustrations to developers and professionals alike, and likely provides a festering ground for corruption,” KIP stated.
Tatu City estimates that Governor Wamatangi’s delay has cost the county and country more than KES 16 billion (USD 125 million) in additional investment value and 4,500 new jobs for young Kenyans.
Tatu City, a pioneering Special Economic Zone, has created more than 20,000 jobs since 2021. The new city is home to more than 2,000 affordable and mid-income apartments, public and private schools with 6,000 students, and 82 businesses, among them leading Kenyan and international companies.
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