Blacklisted Chinese firm bags Sh3.2bn Kenya roads contract

A Chinese construction firm previously blacklisted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) over fraudulent practices on Kenyan infrastructure projects has secured a Sh3.2 billion government road contract.

Weihai Construction Group Company Limited was awarded the contract to upgrade and maintain three roads in Busia County to bitumen standards, marking its return to publicly funded infrastructure projects after serving a 35-month debarment.

On July 6, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) awarded the firm the contract covering the Butula–Nambale–Amukura (C825), Amukura–Machakusi (C808) and Kotur–Kocholia (Amagoro) roads.

The Chinese contractor is among several firms winning tenders to upgrade roads to improve access to markets, schools, health facilities and other economic centres. Since July, KeRRA has awarded contracts worth nearly three times the Sh6.09 billion recorded for 967 contracts in the 12 months to June, signalling an acceleration in road projects ahead of the General Election.

Weihai is among the major beneficiaries of the procurement drive. The AfDB debarred the privately owned company on November 19, 2021, following investigations into fraudulent practices in three major infrastructure projects in Kenya, including the Sh33 billion Kenol-Sagana-Marua Highway.

The bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption also established that the company engaged in fraudulent practices in Phase Two of the Nairobi Rivers Basin Rehabilitation and Restoration Programme and the Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme.

During the sanction period, Weihai and its affiliates were ineligible to participate in AfDB-financed projects.

The debarment also qualified for cross-debarment by other multilateral lenders under an agreement on mutual enforcement of sanctions. These include the Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank Group.

“At the expiry of the debarment period, Weihai Construction Group will be eligible to resume participation in Bank Group-financed projects, conditional on the implementation of an integrity compliance programme consistent with the Bank Group’s guidelines,” the AfDB said in December 2021.

Attempts to reach the company to establish whether it had fulfilled the conditions for reinstatement were unsuccessful.

Weihai has undertaken several road, water and sanitation infrastructure projects in Kenya.

KeRRA records also identify the firm as the contractor for the Sh2.18 billion Soy-Serekea-Kilimani-Turbo and associated roads project, as well as the Sh722 million Narumoru-Ngaring’iru-Nairutia Ngobit road project. The AfDB’s debarment register lists several other companies associated with Kenya that remained sanctioned as at November 3, 2026. They include Esiko Kenya Enterprises Ltd, debarred for nine months from May 19, 2026; Tetralink Taylor & Associates East Africa Ltd, sanctioned for two years from December 10, 2025; and Jiangxi Transportation Engineering Group Ltd, which received a 12-month ban from November 28, 2025.

Ernst & Young LLP was also cross-debarred following a World Bank decision in June 2024, with its listed sanction running until December 24, 2026.

Debarment protects development-financed projects by excluding companies and individuals found guilty of misconduct, including fraud, corruption, collusion, coercion and obstruction.

Sanctioned entities cannot bid for or receive contracts financed or administered by the institution imposing the ban during the applicable period.

Through the mutual enforcement agreement, sanctions imposed by the AfDB can extend to projects financed by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Inter-American Development Bank.

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