July 3, 2015
Kenya

Don’t incite residents against power project, Uhuru urges Marsabit leaders

By PSCU | Kenya Broadcasting Corporation | July 3, 2015 | www.kbc.co.ke

President Kenyatta has appealed to leaders in Marsabit County not to incite residents against the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.

He urged the leaders to tackle any issues regarding the Kshs 70 billion project the largest single private investment in Kenyas history soberly and in an amicable manner.

“This power project has the potential to transform this county. Let us all support it. If there are any issues, use dialogue to resolve them but let us not frustrate it, President Kenyatta said.

President Kenyatta spoke on Thursday when he addressed a public rally at Loiyangalani in Marsabit County. The President had earlier launched the Wind Power project at Sarima, about 50 kilometres from Loiyangalani.

Noting that Marsabit county has potential to produce more wind power electricity, President Kenyatta called for cooperation from the leaders and residents to attract more investors to the county.

The Head of State said his Government on its part has allocated funds for the construction of technical institutes in the county so that the youth can be equipped with skills that will gain them employment arising from the establishment of the wind power project.

He emphasized the importance of education and cautioned against retrogressive cultural practices like cattle rustling.

Such practices have no place in our rapidly transforming country. We cannot continue with these practices when we have projects like the wind power which can improve our lives, President Kenyatta said.

The President also warned against tribalism and appealed to the different communities in Marsabit County to live in peace and harmony regardless of tribe or party affiliation.

“We want peace and prosperity for our people. Let us not allow tribalism to divide them,” the President said.

Speaking during the rally, Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani pledged his full support to the wind power project.

We welcome the wind power project and we are putting up strategies to ensure that it benefits the local community, Governor Yatani said.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, who is also the Energy Committee Chairman in the Senate, said his committee is working on a Bill that will ensure that local communities fully benefit from projects like the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.

Other Marsabit leaders, including area Member of Parliament Joseph Lekuton, came out strongly in defence of Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru and the National Youth Service (NYS) youth empowerment project.

They said the project was beneficial to the youth and the communities, adding that the opposition was only trying to derail it because they did not want the Government to get credit for transforming the country

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/07/03/dont-incite-residents-against-power-project-uhuru-urges-marsabit-leaders/