CORD Principal Raila Odinga has urged the Jubilee government to stop its secret project in the Aberdare mountains just above the Murang’a region, citing that its impact will be one of the most disastrous in the country.
Addressing the press, he said the project, which is known as the Nothern Collector Tunnel, has been handled secretly. He said it will be collecting water from the rivers at their source in the Aberdares and diverting the water to Thika’s Ndakaini dam for use in Nairobi. He added that the project, which is funded by World bank at a cost of Kshs. 6.8 billion, will lead to severe loss of water in Tana river and dry up streams in Garissa, Ukambani, and Muranga.
Raila Odinga said that this project will cause poor drainage and increase water flow in Nairobi. He added that the project will double the rate of water flow in the city, given that Nairobi will be involved, yet the Nairobi Sewerage System can only withstand 20% of the city waste and will lead to 180% of the city waste ending up in Nairobi river.
Raila further said that President Kenyatta must put an immediate stop to the project, adding that he needs to address the people living in the Tana River Basin and tell them why his government is proceeding with the implementation of the project in such secrecy.
He also said the World Bank needs to address itself to the people of Kenya and tell them why it approved the funding of a project and commenced release of the funds to the contractor before an environmental impact assessment was done.
The CORD Principal said President Uhuru Kenyatta must give Kenyans a direct assurance that he has no conflict of interest in this matter between his commercial interests and the interest of Kenyans.