The World Bank Group on March 18, 2026, announced the 21 month debarment with conditional release of Mauritius based PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Africa Ltd. (PwC Associates), PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited Kenya (PwC Kenya), and PricewaterhouseCoopers Rwanda Limited (PwC Rwanda), in connection with collusive and fraudulent practices as part of the Eastern Electricity Highway Project under the First Phase of the Eastern Africa Power Integration Program in Ethiopia.
The project, funded by the World Bank and the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia, was designed to increase electricity supply and cut costs in Kenya while generating export revenue for Ethiopia. Its total value has been reported at approximately Sh149.8 billion.
According to the World Bank, the PwC units obtained confidential procurement information from project officials in 2019 to improperly influence the award of a consultancy services contract for implementing International Financial Reporting Standards at the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. The firms also sought to influence the award of a separate Fixed Asset Inventory and Revaluation contract for the Ethiopian Electric Utility. Additionally, PwC Associates misrepresented the qualifications and availability of key experts and did not fully disclose all the subconsultants they brought on board.
The debarment makes PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, PwC Rwanda, and any affiliates they control ineligible to participate in Bank Group financed projects and operations. It is part of a settlement agreement under which the three companies admit culpability for sanctionable practices.
The penalty was moderated as a result of the firms’ conduct during the investigation. The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of the companies’ admission of misconduct, cooperation, strengthening of aspects of their existing integrity compliance program, and voluntary remedial actions including an internal investigation, internal action against responsible parties, ceasing business with all involved subconsultants, staff training, and voluntary restraint from bidding for Bank Group-financed contracts during negotiations.
As a condition for reinstatement, PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, and PwC Rwanda must develop and implement an integrity compliance programme aligned with World Bank guidelines. PricewaterhouseCoopers Africa Limited, which provides oversight to PwC network firms across the continent, signed the agreement as a non-sanctioned party, acknowledging its oversight responsibility for its members’ compliance.
The debarment also qualifies for cross debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, meaning the firms may face similar restrictions across the international development financing system.
