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"speaker_name": "Mrs. Shebesh",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to second this Motion. In seconding, it I want to put it on record that this issue was brought to this Parliament before. Following consultations with Members of Parliament from Turkana; in particular Mr. Nanok and Mr. Ethuro, I took a petition to the Pan African Parliament (PAP) on the same, on behalf of the people of Turkana. At PAP, this issue is being discussed at the Committee level. Therefore, this is not just an issue for Kenya. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as you will see in the Motion that Dr. Otichilo has brought, the most important issue that I would like people to focus on is who depends on this lake. Six communities in northern Kenya as clearly stated depend on it; the Turkana, the Elmollo, the Samburu, the Gabbra, the Rendile and the Daasanach. The issue of the Gibe 3 Dam must be looked at from two perspectives; that of the Kenyan Government and that of the Ethiopian Government. The reason we bring this Motion here is because there has been reluctance by the Government to listen to the cries of its own people. We want to power this country, we want to accomplish Vision 2030 in terms of powering this country. However, I do not think that Vision 2030 was to be implemented to the detriment of over 300,000 Kenyans. We cannot power as we silently kill the livelihoods of 300,000 people. Why do I say that? As my colleague has already said, those who are in the initial planning stages of this dam which has really progressed in terms of financing are the ADB, the EIB and the Government of Italy. In this discussion is also the Government of Kenya. We want to ask the Government of Kenya that as they are negotiating to buy power from this Gibe 3 Dam, whether they are negotiating on behalf of Kenyans. Are the people dependent on this not Kenyans? If you are negotiating as the Government on behalf of your people, the first people you should consider are those who will be affected by what you are negotiating about. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am glad that the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs is here because this issue is becoming a diplomatic row. This diplomatic row must be taken to the highest level. I am also glad to see that the Minister for Water and Irrigation has come in. This issue of diplomatic row between Ethiopia and Kenya will have to be placed on the table. The Government will not negotiate away the rights of Kenyans. We will not allow the Government to negotiate away the rights of six communities who depend on this lake. If we must buy power, we must never buy power at the detriment of our own people. About 300,000 people will literally crawl to their knees. Right now, they are fighting with the Ethiopians at the border because this lake is diminishing. Most importantly, even their livelihoods will disappear. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, because many colleagues want to support this Motion, in my seconding, I just want the Government to be aware that the new Constitution says that the sovereignty of this country does not lie with the Executive, the Government, Ministries or whoever it is. It lies with the people of Kenya. The people of Kenya have said clearly - through us, their representatives and through their direct representatives they have elected - that this project will kill them, and that it will kill their livelihoods and potentials. Even the big irrigation schemes in Turkana that we are talking about will not happen if this happens. I know we want to power Kenya but not at the detriment of our people. I second this Motion."
}