By Stakwel Yurenimo,
With reference to the comment by my learned From Turkana, Samuel Kablit, I want to thank him for bringing the Turkana Communities woes to light in respect of the huge resources that the North of Kenya has to offer to both Turkana, samburu and marsabit counties. I am a Samburu from south Horr in marsabit county and I comment on behalf of all the communities in both Marsabit and samburu counties regarding the question raised in 12th June 2012 that the government is unwilling to purchase power from lake Turkana Wind power project . Being based in south Horr we have personally seen the lake Turkana wind power team visiting the area over the last 7 years, measuring wind speed , employing security guards , opening up to 100,s of kilometers of roads and thereby employing 700 over these time.coupled with this we have been involved their community meetings finding out what are the woes of the people’s and how they can help in the respect of CSR ( corporate Responsibility program )which is there to give back to the communities .
We have learnt that the project will rebuild access roads to bring in there equipment to build the wind farm at their own cost because the GOK does not have the budget for the same, these alone will open up the Northern Kenya area and allow better trade and possible future for investors. We have learnt the Lake Turkana wind power team and have come to a conclusion that the project will only bring good to the marginalized areas that have been neglected by the GOK for many years. Now we read that the GOK is not willing to purchase the power from there private investors .we ask you , the Gok WHY WHY….? When an opportunity like this exists and it is on a golden plate , you would turn you back on the same and let approximately 18 million people remain with NO hope of being assisted ?????? As the communities are concerned , we would like to see this project materialize Immediately as it gives us hope and jobs, education , food , water, and better life which is more than can be said for how we are treated today .
I would like to add that in nation newspaper of 20th June 2012 on page 12 ( jkisero@ke. nationmedia.com I. Noted the heading. ..WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT LONGER FOR CHEAP POWER IF THE FINANCiES HAVE TO WAIT …….upon reading this article which is specific to the Ethopian transmission line for Kenya to import I ask WHY do we need to import power when we have such rich resources on our door step and all come from the North of Kenya with WIND in Marsabit County and OIL / GEOTHERMAL in Turkana County . I come to the conclusion from the stated article that the problem here is World Bank conditions and not necessarily the investors or financiers and we believe the same possibly what is happening to Lake Turkana wind power project .
Therefore on behalf of the Samburu, Turkana and all the communities in Marsabit county we ask the GOK , ministry of Energy , ministry Finance, and Kenya Power please not be blinded by “Red Tep” of outsiders and see what is good for the great Nation of Kenya to achieve 2030 Vision to benefit the communities and the Country .
Long Mouth Social Commune 