The World Bank has imposed a 21-month debarment on PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) firms in Kenya, Rwanda, and Mauritius, barring them from participating in any Bank-financed projects following findings of collusion and fraudulent practices.
In a statement released on March 18, 2026, the international financial institution accused PwC Associates in Mauritius, PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda of misconduct related to contracts under the Eastern Africa Power Integration Program, specifically the Ethiopian Electricity Highway Project. That initiative aims to bolster electricity supply in Kenya while enabling Ethiopia to generate revenue through power exports.
Investigators determined that in 2019 the firms improperly secured confidential procurement information from project officials to influence contract awards. They also misrepresented the availability, qualifications, and employment status of key experts and failed to disclose all subcontractors during both the selection and execution phases. Such actions violated World Bank procurement guidelines and constituted collusive and fraudulent behavior.
The debarment renders the three entities—and any affiliates under their control—ineligible for World Bank Group projects and operations during the sanction period. The penalty stems from a negotiated settlement in which the firms acknowledged the wrongdoing.
In mitigation, the World Bank cited their cooperation throughout the investigation, internal remedial measures, staff training initiatives, and efforts to bolster compliance programs. The companies had also voluntarily ceased bidding on Bank-funded opportunities while settlement terms were finalized.
As a condition of the agreement, the firms are required to establish and maintain a comprehensive integrity compliance program aligned with World Bank standards before regaining eligibility.
PwC Africa Limited, the regional network overseer, was not directly sanctioned but joined the settlement to ensure ongoing supervision of its member firms.
The World Bank described the enforcement action as part of its broader commitment to safeguarding project integrity, emphasizing that all consultants must uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in Bank-supported endeavors.
The case underscores ongoing efforts to combat fraud in development financing across the region
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