KDRDIP decries political interference could delay project implementation

Garissa, Wednesday, April 12, 2023

K.N.A By Erick Kyalo

The Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (KDRDIP) has decried political interference and elite capture in the implementation of its projects in Fafi and Lagdera constituencies, Garissa County which may delay their completion on time.

There are reports that a section of the new political leaders in these constituencies want to replace the current community facilitators and social mobilizers with new ones aligned to them thereby holding the disbursement of about Sh 2.7 billion in programme financing.

In a letter to Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Community, ASAL and Regional Development Rebbeca Miano, the World Bank’s Country Director Keith Hansen notes that while the project has been successfully implemented in Wajir and Turkana counties, there has been delays in contracting community facilitators in Garissa County causing some projects to be put on hold.

The letter seen by KNA adds, “With the project ending of December 31, 2023, the World Bank is concerned that any further delays in Garissa County, where the bulk of project activities are located, will leave the project incomplete at the time of closure,” the letter reads in part.

“Less than nine months to the closure of the project, more than Sh 2.7 billion (USD20 million) in project funding remains undisbursed. In addition to denying displacement affected communities in Garissa County the much needed access to social and economic services and infrastructure, further delays would raise the risk that the government of Kenya would need to refund the World Bank the full cost of any incomplete subprojects,” World Bank warns in the latter.

This comes as a section of residents from Fafi constituency held peaceful demonstrations outside the KDRDIP offices in Garissa yesterday calling for suspension of all community mobilizers and community facilitators whom they accuse of working in cohorts with the Garissa office to defraud the community.

Among other issues the demonstrators want addressed include non-renewal of contracts for the officials working in Garissa County when their contracts expire.

But in response, KDRDIP says that the community facilitators and social mobilizers were well thought of by the government and the World Bank.

“KDRDIP is a Community Driven Development project and decisions on the development needs of the community is made at village assemblies or public barazas. The resolutions are well documented through minutes and escalated to the County Steering Committee for further deliberations,” KDRDIP said in a press statement.

“In order for this to happen, we need community facilitators and social mobilizers on the ground to guide the communities within the framework of the project design, resources and other requirements,” the statement reads further.

Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (KDRDIP) is a National Government initiative, supported by the World Bank to improve lives of the refugee-hosting communities in the north of the country affecting Turkana, Wajir and Garissa Counties.

Courtesy K.N.A