2016-06-22
How did one of Africa's biggest investment companies spend the money they collected from international developments banks for the refurbishment of the Rift Valley Railway?
The Rift Valley Railway, a roughly 2000-kilometer-long train track meandering through Kenya and Uganda. The railway is one of the most important infrastructure projects in East Africa, crucial support for the growth spurt the region has undergone the past decennium.
After having been neglected for years, construction on the railway was reinstated by Qalaa Holdings, one of biggest investment companies in Africa, after it had managed to collect 287 million dollars. Half of that money comes from international development banks like the Belgian BIO.
Five years after the start of the plans, Patrick Mayoyo (Kenya), George Turner (UK) and Berber Verpoest (Belgium) investigate how exactly Qalaa spent the Rift Valley Railway development funds, an investigation that leads them to several tax havens.
This project was funded through Journalismfund.eu's Flanders Connects Continents grant programme.
Supported
Grant of €3.500, allocated on 12/02/2016ID
FCC/2016/004Tags
ONLINE
- Unmasking the faces of the troubled railway line - Daily Reporter (Kenya), 1 July 2016
- Revealed: Details of Sh 16 billion World Bank investigations at RVR - Daily Reporter (Kenya), 29 June 2016
- The highs and lows of a ride on the Lunatic Express - Daily Reporter (Kenya), 29 June 2016
- The Lunatic Express Files Project - Daily Reporter (Kenya), 29 June 2016
- Belgisch ontwikkelingsgeld voor Keniaanse trein der traagheid - MO* (Belgium), 22 June 2016
- Waarom de trein die Oost-Afrika ontwikkeling moest brengen nooit aankwam - De Correspondent (Netherlands), 22 June 2016
- Trouble on the Lunatic Express - Finance Uncovered, 22 June 2016
- World Bank looks into case of ‘embezzlement’ at RVR - Observer (Uganda), 22 June 2016
- Trouble on the Lunatic Express - Daily Reporter (Kenya), 21 June 2016
World Bank looks into case of ‘embezzlement’ at RVR - Observer (Uganda), 22 June 2016
need resources for your own investigative story?
Journalismfund Europe's flexible grants programmes enable journalists to produce relevant public interest stories with a European mind-set from international, national, and regional perspectives.
support independent cross-border investigative journalism
We rely on your support to continue the work that we do. Make a gift of any amount today.
