African Development Bank Sanctions KEEPS Construction for Fraud

The investigation, conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption, centered on the firm’s conduct during the Water Infrastructure Development Program for Resilience in Somaliland. While the bank’s official announcement confirms the finding of fraud, it stopped short of detailing the specific actions taken by the company. The infrastructure initiative was originally designed to bolster water and sanitation sectors for vulnerable rural communities and internally displaced populations near Hargeisa.

Under the terms of the sanction, KEEPS and its affiliates, including Kafi Enterprise for Environment Protection and Sanitation, retain their ability to bid on bank-funded projects. However, this access remains strictly contingent upon the firm’s adherence to the mandated corporate integrity guidelines. Should the company fail to satisfy these compliance requirements within the 12-month window, the current non-debarment status will automatically convert to a full debarment, effectively barring the firm from all bank-financed work until specific release conditions are met.