MPs Oppose Building of Omo Power Dam
africa, kenya, politics 4:54 AM
The government has been accused of taking the lives and welfare of the citizens for granted. Members of parliament wondered how the government was operating even as activities by foreigners threatened the lives of its citizens.
MPs cited the recent killing of Turkana by Merille tribesmen from Ethiopia and who continue to occupy a large area in Kenya.
South Island of Lake Turkana in Kenya
The MPs accused Ethiopia of being a hostile neighbour. Angry MPs including assistant ministers said Ethiopia, Kenya's neighbour to the North, was "unfriendly".
They said the country had failed to stop its citizens from attacking Kenyans with impunity. More disheartening, the legislators said, Addis Ababa was now constructing a dam along river Omo that will make Lake Turkana dry up.
The MPs were contributing to a motion sponsored by Emuhaya MP Wilbur Otichillo that seeks to stop Ethiopia from constructing the dam.
The lawmakers approved the motion instructing President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to push the government of Ethiopia to stop the construction of the huge hydro-power dam on River Omo.
MPs argued that River Omo supplied 90 per cent of the water in Lake Turkana.
They added that the salinity of the lake will also increase because of the dam and affect the lake's ecosystem. Otichillo called on fellow MPs to support the motion saying 300,000 people will be affected in Kenya if the dam project is allowed.
MPs cited the recent killing of Turkana by Merille tribesmen from Ethiopia and who continue to occupy a large area in Kenya.
South Island of Lake Turkana in Kenya The MPs accused Ethiopia of being a hostile neighbour. Angry MPs including assistant ministers said Ethiopia, Kenya's neighbour to the North, was "unfriendly".
They said the country had failed to stop its citizens from attacking Kenyans with impunity. More disheartening, the legislators said, Addis Ababa was now constructing a dam along river Omo that will make Lake Turkana dry up.
The MPs were contributing to a motion sponsored by Emuhaya MP Wilbur Otichillo that seeks to stop Ethiopia from constructing the dam.
The lawmakers approved the motion instructing President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to push the government of Ethiopia to stop the construction of the huge hydro-power dam on River Omo.
MPs argued that River Omo supplied 90 per cent of the water in Lake Turkana.
They added that the salinity of the lake will also increase because of the dam and affect the lake's ecosystem. Otichillo called on fellow MPs to support the motion saying 300,000 people will be affected in Kenya if the dam project is allowed.
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