NSSF clears air surrounding Sh1.3tr Kigamboni project

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has refuted claims that the government has put up for sale the Dege Echo Village Real Estate project in Kigamboni.

Reports that the government has put up the project for sale started circulating this week. Speaking to The Citizen sister paper Mwananchi, NSSF Board of Trustees Chairman, Prof Samwel Wangwe, said NSSF was only looking for a partner.

“We only want to scale down the project, that’s why we are looking for a partner. We haven’t found any one yet for a joint project, but we are still engaged in negotiations,” he told The Citizen.

However, according to social media reports, the government commissioned Yono Auction Mart to look for a suitable buyer.

When reached for comment, an official from Yono Auction Mart, who didn’t want to be named in the paper, neither confirmed nor refuted the reports.

“There are things that we are working on, so I can’t reveal them now; we will give you information, when the time is right,” said the official.

The implementation of $653.44 million (Sh1.3 trillion), which started in 2014, was expected to be completed in January last year.

The project, which was a joint venture between NSSF and Azimio Housing Estate Limited, failed to be completed following embezzlement of Sh179 billion.

Dege Echo Village upon its completion was supposed to host residential buildings, recreation areas, shopping malls and offices, among other things.

In July 13 NSSF sacked 12 officials, who were suspended since July, 2016 over corruption allegations.

The officials were suspended to allow investigation into embezzlement allegations and abuse of office.

The officials were sent home on July 19 to pave the way for investigation that had cost NSSF billions of shillings.

Among those suspended were six directors, five managers and an engineer.

Investigation was necessitated by various reports, including findings of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) on questionable operations at NSSF.

Areas to be probed include in funds embezzlement, abuse of power and flouting rules on investments, land purchase and employment.