Mombasa County has found itself in the middle of a storm after a human rights group exposed a controversial Ksh17 billion waste-to-energy tender allegedly awarded secretly by the administration of Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir.
The Centre for Litigation Trust (CLT) raised concerns that the project, which involves the design, construction, financing, operation, and eventual transfer of a massive waste-to-energy processing plant in Mwakirunge, was issued without the approval of the County Assembly and without public participation as required by law.
The organisation stated that the tender had been awarded to a Ghanaian conglomerate under unclear circumstances, accusing county officials of concealing vital information from both the public and the County Assembly.
According to CLT, the process lacked transparency and went against the principles of accountability that govern the use of public funds.
The watchdog further demanded that the county provide details of how the tender was advertised, who the bidders were, and what criteria were used to select the winning company.
In a formal letter to the county government, CLT issued a 7-day ultimatum demanding full disclosure of the shortlisted applicants, total number of bidders, and the actual amount quoted for the project.
They also sought to know whether the tender was structured as a public-private partnership or a standard county procurement contract, and whether the County Assembly had ever been consulted before the deal was approved.
The organization questioned how such a huge project could move forward without being tabled for public scrutiny, especially one worth billions and directly affecting Mombasa residents.
The tender’s secrecy has also raised eyebrows within the County Assembly itself. Bamburi MCA Patrick Mwavule publicly challenged the executive to explain how the assembly’s approval was obtained, if at all.
He maintained that at no point had the matter been debated in the assembly or recorded in official proceedings. Mwavule’s remarks suggested that the executive might have misrepresented facts to justify the contract’s legality.
His statement sparked growing concern among fellow members, many of whom are now calling for an independent investigation into the deal.
Adding to the controversy, the tender reportedly followed a trip to Ghana in early August led by Governor Nassir and a team from Mombasa County.
The visit, which was framed as a learning mission on waste management, now appears to have paved the way for the awarding of the lucrative contract.
Critics argue that the deal was predetermined and that the so-called partnership was a cover for a closed-door agreement between Mombasa officials and the Ghanaian firm.
For a county already struggling with waste management, the project was initially presented as a game-changer meant to transform Mwakirunge dumpsite into a clean energy facility.
However, the unfolding allegations now paint a picture of another opaque deal executed behind the backs of the very people it was meant to benefit. Residents and civil society groups are demanding accountability and transparency, insisting that the governor’s administration come clean about who approved the contract and under what authority.
The Ksh17 billion deal has now become a test of integrity for Abdulswamad Nassir’s government. If the claims by CLT are confirmed, the project could join a growing list of questionable mega-tenders across counties where public participation and oversight have been ignored in favour of secret agreements.
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