Raila is bitter after losing ‘commission’ on water collector – Duale

The National Assembly Majority leader, Aden Duale, has accused CORD leader, Raila Odinga, of seeking cheap publicity in his open criticism of the northern water collector tunnel project.

Speaking just moments after Odinga’s presser on Monday, October 10, Duale said that the CORD leader was insincere in his criticism of the project since he is the one who launched the project during his time as Prime Minister in 2012.

“Raila’s lash-out at Jubilee over the water project is insincere. He is simply using the project as a scheme to hide the disgruntlement in his coalition CORD,” he said.

“There is the possibility that Raila was promised a commission from the project and his discontent is a result of a botched promise.”

Early Monday, Odinga accused Jubilee of carrying out a ‘secret’ project that would cause devastating effect on the people of Ukambani, Garissa, Tana River and Murang’a.

He said that there had been no public participation prior to the commencement of the project adding that the secrecy behind the project raises suspicion.

Raila further alleged that the project would convert Murang’a, Tana River, Garissa and Ukambani regions into deserts and make Nairobi flood-prone due to increased volumes of water that would be flowing to the capital.

He accused World Bank, which is funding the project, of ignored environmental concerns raised over the project.

He called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop the project until a comprehensive audit on environmental concerns and proper environmental impact assessment on the data and hydrological survey is conducted on underground systems.

“World Bank should also speak to the people of Kenya and explain why it approved the setting up of a project before environmental assessment is done.”

In a rejoinder, however, the government, through Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa refuted Raila’s claims saying the project has no environmental implications to the communities.

Eugene said that it was hypocritical for Raila to dis the project which he launched during his time as Prime Minister adding that once completed the project would end water shortage in Nairobi.

“The water supplied to Nairobi is 540,000 cubic meters yet what we require is over 700,000 cubic meters. We have about 6 million people in Nairobi every day, and Nairobi doesn’t have its own water,” said Mr Wamalwa.

“The water sources for Nairobi are external. We need to work on these mega projects such as the northern collector tunnel. The World Bank is a key partner and conducts extensive studies before authorising such a project.”

He said that all the necessary approvals and licenses were obtained for the abstraction of water from Irati, Maragwa and Gikige rivers.