The following letter about the rape of a community land by Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc (KPLC) was copied to the relevant authorities which includes: The World Bank, Amnesty Kenya and USA, Kenya National Human Rights Commission, National Land Commission, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and KPLC.
The residents are complaining that their livelihoods is seriously interfered with if this project goes on.
They want it shut down.
It seems that the funders and implementers of this project never did public participation as required by the law.
Read below.
This was a letter adressed to World Bank, the donors of the Last Mile Project.
We write to bring to your attention about a project NEMA approval Number PR/5/2/15/, 050 which is being put up. It has become an increasing concern in our Location by the National Government and the Leadership of Kisii County and the Kenya power and Lighting (KPLC), Kenya East Modernization project (KEMP)-
LOT3 contact No kp1/12A-2/PT/4/14/A36C/LOT3.
This development is a power plant being put up on a community Land Kisii County Mwamosioma LR 698 which has created anxiety and disquiet among residents and stakeholders.
Much of the public concern since mid-2014 is about lack of information provided to the public or their leaders about putting up a project on a community owned land and encroaching on private citizen’s properties without sensitization and proper public involvement and or compensation.
It was not until the project commenced that they arranged for public participation which was very vague and casual non-committal to be
exact.
The said community land was already allocated for a market and a chief’s camp. Besides the project is being put up on a road; closing connection and linkage of two communities Mwamosioma and Mwabundusi to a shopping center, schools, hospitals and extending it to private peoples land with impunity and a lot of
malice.
Another concern is this project’s impact on the environment. KEMP-LOT3 is not being held accountable to an environmental impact assessment it is being put up in a residential area with more than ten thousand residents living within and less than 100 meters. This project shuts off people from a water source spring that has been used for generations build by our former councilor Hon Oresi – how is that even possible?
Besides how did KPLC a profit making company acquire public, land encroach on the road, bar people from the source spring of water that has been used for generations by thousands of people and encroaching on private individuals’ property?
The public formally learned of these project just a month ago. The lack of detailed information coming from the Governor’s office, as government and clan elders and local administration were not aware and initially
flawed and lack proper channeling of information, has caused concern and anxiety among the citizens of Mwamosioma Location and elsewhere.
The public’s concern has resulted in resolutions by calling on NEMA, the county Government and KPLC to stop putting up this project and instead supplement it with the initial plans of putting up a market which will be more lucrative to the community at large and for the World Bank to stop funding this dubious project jeopardizing people’s safety, health and livelihood.
Also to refrain from further action on the property until the court has sufficient information to insure proper utilization and full involvement of the citizenry and stakeholders.
Unfortunately, since the public have not seen any details of the project agreements, participant’s previous questions and issues at meetings received very vague answers that were not supported by any specific documents.
We ask NEMA to revoke the approval Number PR/5/2/15/, 050 and the World Bank to stop funding this project and encourage our elected representatives and public servants to stop any attempts to affirm, approve and attest to this project. We hold our leaders accountable to a review of project and change of location and parameters to elsewhere and do the process that is thorough and transparent.
In closing, we call on NEMA, our Governor, other leaders, Our Governments, KPLC and the World Bank to stop this illegality-you are chosen to fulfill your duties in the service of people.
Sincerely
For (Kitutu Central Mwamosioma/Mwabundusi Community and Friends)
Letter to CEO KPLC –
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