Mohamed Shurie Dragged to Court Over Alleged Accountability Gaps in Ksh17 Billion Horn of Africa Groundwater Project
Public-interest Activist Francis Awino has moved to the High Court in Nairobi seeking financial accountability and disclosure of records relating to a Ksh17 billion groundwater development project targeting drought-prone counties in northern Kenya.
The petition raises concerns over the management, procurement, expenditure and implementation of the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project, which aims to improve access to sustainable water supplies in communities facing recurrent drought and water shortages.
The court directed Awino to serve the petition on the respondents and interested parties before the matter proceeds.
Court Sets Timelines for Responses
In directions issued on October 29, 2026, Justice Nyaudi Patricia Mande ordered Awino to serve the petition and accompanying application by November 5.
The respondents and interested parties were directed to file their responses within 14 days of service, or by November 20, 2026, according to the court’s directions.
Awino was also granted seven days from service of the responses to file a further affidavit. The matter will be mentioned on February 10, 2027, to confirm compliance and receive further directions.
Ksh17 Billion Project Under Scrutiny
The petition concerns the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project, a development programme supported by the World Bank and implemented through Kenyan water-sector institutions.
According to Awino’s court filings, the project is intended to strengthen groundwater management and improve water security in Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties.
The petitioner estimates Kenya’s component of the programme at approximately US$135 million, equivalent to about Ksh17 billion.
Awino argues that the scale of public investment warrants transparent accounting of funds received, amounts spent, contractual commitments and the infrastructure delivered to intended beneficiaries.
Petitioner Seeks Financial and Procurement Records
The petition seeks disclosure of approved budgets, expenditure reports, contracts, tender documents, payment certificates and records showing the implementation status of the project across the five counties.
Awino also wants information on exploratory boreholes, groundwater monitoring wells and related infrastructure, including their locations, completion status and operational condition.
The filings raise concerns about whether the expenditure incurred corresponds with completed works and whether the project is achieving its intended objectives.
The petitioner further seeks records clarifying the respective responsibilities of the Water Resources Authority, the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the Water Sector Trust Fund and officials involved in project implementation.
EACC and Auditor-General Named
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Auditor-General have been named as interested parties in the proceedings.
Awino is seeking orders for the preservation and disclosure of relevant records, as well as an independent examination of the project’s financial and procurement processes.
The petition also seeks declarations on the accountability obligations of the institutions involved and further orders the court may consider appropriate.
The allegations remain claims presented in the petition and have not been determined by the court. The October 29 directions addressed procedural timelines and did not determine the merits of the case.
