KENYA AND EGYPT ENGAGED IN SERIOUS DISCUSSION OVER THE LOCAL USE OF LAKE VICTORIA WATERS

01/26/2007
GRANTS ARCHIVES AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	KENYA AND EGYPT ENGAGED IN SERIOUS DISCUSSION OVER THE LOCAL USE OF LAKE VICTORIA WATERS By Leo Odera Omolo Luocome, Kisumu, 25-01-2007 It was good and hearty news this week when the visiting Egyptian minister disclosed that talks are on going to allow the residents of Nyanza Province the use of Lake Victoria waters and irrigation and for other economic purposes. He disclosed that his country and Kenya have recently signed a memorandum of understanding on a project, which would also include irrigation The Egyptian minister for Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Mahmoud Abu-zeid said a Kenyan delegation had visited Cairo for the discussion. Egyptian minister, however, dismissed a notion that his Government closely guarded River Nile and Lake Victoria from down stream countries. "We are not opposed to the use of the Nile and Victoria waters from downstream countries." He said his government had assured Kenya of its assistance to open up Lake Victoria especially for drinking water. "We hope we can extend the technical cooperation between the two countries to other areas. And also we intend to organize football tournaments for the countries in the Nile basin," he added. The Egyptian minister was in the country briefly for the purpose of commissioning a primary school in Machakos district in Eastern Province where he also commissioned drilling of 30 boreholes, a project which is sponsored by the Egyptian Government at the cost of kshs 70 million. The project is the third phase of an on-going programme in machakos, Makueni, Kitui and Mwingi districts. These are the regions, which are prone to serious drought and getting less rainfall annually. The first and the second phases comprising of 150 boreholes were drilled in twenty districts, including Baringo, Koibatek, Kajiado, Kericho, Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi, Isiolo, Marshabit, Taita-Taveta, Tana River, Makueni and Meru North. The boreholes, which cost Egypt about kshs 420 million, have already been handed over to the Kenya government. More than 40,00 people and 150,00 animals are expected to benefit from the program. The ceremony was also attended by the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed About Gheit, Kenya`s minister for water Resources, John Katuku and the area MP Kyalo Kaindi, who is also an Assistant Minister for Agriculture. The Egyptian minister said it was the government of Kenya which has chosen the location of the boreholes. His government role had been to source of technicians from Kegwa Company Limited of Egypt, which is contracted with the duty of implementing the programme. Meanwhile the floods prone areas of Nyanza and Western Provinces are to benefit from Ksh. 5.6 million grant from the World Bank. The money will be used to avert perennial disasters caused by heavy rains. The Ministries of Water and Irrigation and Special Programs will release a further Ksh. 2.8 billion that will be mainly used in building dykes at the banks of rivers which are causing the floods. This was stated in Kisumu by the Minister for Special Programs John Munyes who said the money would not be enough to avert the perennial floods which mainly affect Budalangi in Busia and Kano plains in Nyando districts. "The government is pushing for further 20 million USD (Kshs 1.4 billion) from the world Bank so that the problem of floods can be dealt with once and for all." Studies are under way in Budalangi constituency in Busia district to pave the way for the construction of the dykes along the Nzoia River, which is the source of flood waters during the rain seasons. Floods that hit the area in December last year and displaced hundreds of people were blamed on broken dykes. The new dykes to be built, along the major rivers in the region would save the government large amounts of money used annually to evacuate displaced families and provide them with relief food every year. From December last year, the minister said, the government has spent over Ksh. 600 million in relief programs in 19 districts countrywide. "We hope rains will no longer cause the residents of the area unnecessary anxiety. ENDS leooderaomolo@yahoo.com The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement. LUOCOME-MEDIA ===================================================== Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? INJILI GOSPEL GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

KENYA AND EGYPT ENGAGED IN SERIOUS DISCUSSION OVER THE LOCAL USE OF LAKE VICTORIA WATERS

By Leo Odera Omolo
Luocome, Kisumu, 25-01-2007

It was good and hearty news this week when the visiting Egyptian minister disclosed that talks are on going to allow the residents of Nyanza Province the use of Lake Victoria waters and irrigation and for other economic purposes.

He disclosed that his country and Kenya have recently signed a memorandum of understanding on a project, which would also include irrigation

The Egyptian minister for Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Mahmoud Abu-zeid said a Kenyan delegation had visited Cairo for the discussion.

Egyptian minister, however, dismissed a notion that his Government closely guarded River Nile and Lake Victoria from down stream countries. "We are not opposed to the use of the Nile and Victoria waters from downstream countries."

He said his government had assured Kenya of its assistance to open up Lake Victoria especially for drinking water. "We hope we can extend the technical cooperation between the two countries to other areas. And also we intend to organize football tournaments for the countries in the Nile basin," he added.

The Egyptian minister was in the country briefly for the purpose of commissioning a primary school in Machakos district in Eastern Province where he also commissioned drilling of 30 boreholes, a project which is sponsored by the Egyptian Government at the cost of kshs 70 million.

The project is the third phase of an on-going programme in machakos, Makueni, Kitui and Mwingi districts. These are the regions, which are prone to serious drought and getting less rainfall annually.

The first and the second phases comprising of 150 boreholes were drilled in twenty districts, including Baringo, Koibatek, Kajiado, Kericho, Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi, Isiolo, Marshabit, Taita-Taveta, Tana River, Makueni and Meru North.

The boreholes, which cost Egypt about kshs 420 million, have already been handed over to the Kenya government. More than 40,00 people and 150,00 animals are expected to benefit from the program.

The ceremony was also attended by the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed About Gheit, Kenya`s minister for water Resources, John Katuku and the area MP Kyalo Kaindi, who is also an Assistant Minister for Agriculture. The Egyptian minister said it was the government of Kenya which has chosen the location of the boreholes. His government role had been to source of technicians from Kegwa Company Limited of Egypt, which is contracted with the duty of implementing the programme.

Meanwhile the floods prone areas of Nyanza and Western Provinces are to benefit from Ksh. 5.6 million grant from the World Bank.

The money will be used to avert perennial disasters caused by heavy rains. The Ministries of Water and Irrigation and Special Programs will release a further Ksh. 2.8 billion that will be mainly used in building dykes at the banks of rivers which are causing the floods.

This was stated in Kisumu by the Minister for Special Programs John Munyes who said the money would not be enough to avert the perennial floods which mainly affect Budalangi in Busia and Kano plains in Nyando districts. "The government is pushing for further 20 million USD (Kshs 1.4 billion) from the world Bank so that the problem of floods can be dealt with once and for all."

Studies are under way in Budalangi constituency in Busia district to pave the way for the construction of the dykes along the Nzoia River, which is the source of flood waters during the rain seasons.

Floods that hit the area in December last year and displaced hundreds of people were blamed on broken dykes. The new dykes to be built, along the major rivers in the region would save the government large amounts of money used annually to evacuate displaced families and provide them with relief food every year.

From December last year, the minister said, the government has spent over Ksh. 600 million in relief programs in 19 districts countrywide. "We hope rains will no longer cause the residents of the area unnecessary anxiety.

ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement.
LUOCOME-MEDIA