ケニア円借款案件(ソンドゥ・ミリウ水力発電事業）
地元NGOから 技術委員会に宛てたレター（12月14日）

NGO COALITION ON SONDU-MIRIU HPP

PO Box 76479 Nairobi-Kenya Tel: 254-2-56.4040 Fax:254-2-57.37.37. email: cna@lion.meteo.go.ke

　

14^th December 2001

The Chairman
Technical Committee
SMHPP

Dear Sir

Re: Technical Committee on Sondu-Miriu Hydro-Power Project (SMHPP)

We the Coalition of NGOs working for communities affected by the SMHPP once again reiterate our appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Japan for its continued commitment in working towards the successful conclusion of the above project.

As we approach the beginning of phase 2 implementation and after wide consultations within the Coalition, I wish to categorically state the following:

1)That at the NGO Coalition still stands by its memorandum of 3 rd September 2001 to the Japanese delegation on the SMHPP which contained inter alia:

a)Social and Environmental issues e.g.

Social:

• Deterioration of the health of the affected communities due to air pollution related to dust from the project site,
• Increase in poverty as the affected communities have to spend their meagre resources in managing their health,
• Effective land compensation,
• Employment opportunities for the local affected communities,
• Improvement of roads,
• Rural electrification,
• Rural water supply,
• Project auditing,
• Preservation of cultural sites, e.g. Odino Falls,
• Improvement of the affected communities' economic development,
• Non-harassment and intimidation of civil society working on SMHPP.

Environmental:

• Immediate halting of the excision of the Mau Forest which is the catchment area for the River Miriu,
• Irrigation and flood control,
• Air, noise and water pollution,
• Soil erosion, silt deposition,
• Diversion of the riverine ecosystem,
• Deforestation,

Therefore with the above framework serving as a basis for phase 2 implementation and with the understanding that funds are soon to be released, we expect KENGEN as the implementing agency to take the following actions and state the same publicly in the TC:

• How it intends to implement recommendations of the TC regarding employment which include among other things, weeding out corruption, favouritism, and increasing employment opportunities to the locals affected by the project.

• Whether KENGEN will now contract independent experts acceptable to all stakeholders to re-evaluate land compensation and ALL other adverse environmental impacts attributable to the project including water pollution, contamination of under ground water sources e.g. springs, effects on fish breeding sites, dust and air pollution, deforestation, etc.

In relation to the above, we feel that this project is sufficiently large in scale and warrants involving a U.N agency for post project monitoring as is the practice with similar projects in other countries.

• KENGEN should be practically seen to be acting on the provision of good roads, clean and safe drinking water, improvement and upgrading existing health services.

Finally, we shall join KENGEN in fighting against the excision of Mau Forest -which is the catchment area of River Miriu. KENGEN as a Government agency should take the lead in this campaign.

We sincerely hope that with the implementation of the above points, our past misunderstandings can be a thing of the past and phase 2 implementation can progress smoothly and in a timely fashion.

Yours Sincerely

Climate Network Africa
For and on behalf of:
NGO Coalition on SMHPP

cc:
-M.D, KENGEN
Stima Plaza, Nairobi

-Ambassador, Japanese Embassy
ICEA Building, Nairobi

-Chief Representative, JBIC
International Life House, Nairobi

-Secretary,
TC -SMHPP