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The World Bank Group has barred Mauritius-based PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Africa Ltd., along with PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited Kenya and PricewaterhouseCoopers Rwanda Limited, from its projects for 21 months, with the possibility of early reinstatement if certain conditions are met. The action follows findings of misconduct tied to a major cross-border electricity project linking Ethiopia and Kenya.
The sanctions relate to the Eastern Electricity Highway Project, which forms part of a wider regional effort to strengthen power integration across East Africa. The project is intended to enable Ethiopia to export surplus electricity to Kenya, while helping to lower energy costs across the region.
The move also comes against the backdrop of PwC’s history of regulatory scrutiny in different parts of the world, where it has faced penalties ranging from fines and reprimands to temporary bans and suspensions—making the latest sanction in Africa broadly in line with previous disciplinary actions.
According to the World Bank, the issues arose during the selection and execution of the Fixed Asset Inventory and Revaluation contract for the Ethiopian Electric Utility. It found that PwC Associates misrepresented the availability, qualifications, and employment status of key experts, and did not fully disclose all subconsultants involved in the project.
“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 report added.
One of the entities provided misleading details on the expertise and availability of key personnel and did not release the full subcontracting arrangements, an action that didn’t meet World Bank’s integrity standards.
As part of a negotiated settlement, the companies acknowledged their role in the misconduct and agreed to corrective measures. These include internal disciplinary steps, compliance reforms, staff training, and cooperation with ongoing oversight processes. The reduced length of the ban reflects these remedial efforts.
