Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya) has raised concerns over corruption and governance risks in some of Kenya’s biggest infrastructure projects, with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) identified as the project facing the highest risk.
The findings are contained in a report titled Corruption Risk Assessment of Infrastructure Projects in Kenya, which examined how selected public projects are managed, procured, and monitored.
The assessment was carried out using the Infrastructure Corruption Risk Assessment Tool (ICRAT).Among the projects reviewed were the SGR, the Kiambu Civil Servants Housing Scheme, and the Vihiga Affordable Housing Project.
According to the report, the SGR recorded a corruption risk score of 4.49 out of 5, the highest among the projects assessed.
TI-Kenya said the score points to serious concerns related to transparency, procurement practices, and institutional oversight.
The report noted that there is limited public access to information on how the SGR was financed and contracted. It also raised questions about the openness of procurement processes and whether the country received value for money.
In addition, TI-Kenya pointed to weak oversight mechanisms and limited public participation during the planning and implementation of the railway project.
The Kiambu Civil Servants Housing Scheme was also highlighted in the report, scoring 3.24 out of 5, which indicates a moderately high corruption risk.
The Vihiga Affordable Housing Project was similarly flagged due to governance weaknesses that could affect accountability and effective project implementation.
TI-Kenya Executive Director Sheila Masinde said the report exposes governance gaps that continue to affect infrastructure development in the country.
She noted that projects such as the SGR require greater transparency, accountability, and public participation at every stage to ensure public resources are used effectively and citizens benefit from the investments.
The concerns raised by TI-Kenya echo previous investigations into the SGR, particularly those involving land compensation.
One of the cases involved former National Land Commission Chairperson Muhammad Swazuri, who has been in court since 2018 over allegations of irregular compensation payments linked to the railway project.
The report also raised concerns about affordable housing projects, citing missing documents such as Environmental Impact Assessments, feasibility studies, and Bills of Quantities.
TI-Kenya’s Head of Programmes, Gibson Mwaita, said the issues identified are not isolated cases but reflect wider weaknesses in public institutions.
He called for stronger safeguards, improved transparency, and easier public access to information to help reduce corruption risks and improve the delivery of public infrastructure projects in Kenya.
