Critical Water Situation
Turkana under threat due to damming of River Omo in Ethiopia
(eTN) - Protests took place in Nairobi last weekend aimed at the Gibe III dam Ethiopia is constructing on their territory but which is said to have an immediate and massive impact on Kenya. The only major river, the River Omo, emptying into Lake Turkana in Kenya is being dammed, and the reduced water flow is going to affect the already critical water situation of the lake and the Turkana herdsmen.
The water levels have, in past years, shrunk at the lake, due to both drought and reduced inflow, and the shores receded deep into what used to be the Jade Lake, called after its colors.
This has deprived a previously thriving fishing industry of much of its potential catch, with plants closed and fishermen out of work now hardly able to find enough daily catch to feed their families and make a half-way decent living of it.
Herdsmen also depend on the river’s water, more so in the face of constant droughts, and even boreholes have started to dry up as the water table keeps falling.
On the Kenyan side of the border, major investments for up to 1,000 MW of wind power production are planned, and attempts by the Kenyan government and civil society to have the Ethiopian government scale down the plans have fallen on deaf ears.
Environmentalists and conservationists alike – the Turkana area is also home to archaeological digs undertaken by the Leakey family with finds of early mankind – have criticized the plan, but in spite of a growing chorus, the government in Ethiopia has not found it necessary to engage on a larger front with critics and seek joint mitigating measures. Friends of Lake Turkana – with a growing movement on Facebook - marched to the Chinese Embassy where they delivered a petition for the government in Beijing to stop working on such environmentally- and highly-controversial projects and withdraw subcontracted firms from the dam brought onboard by main contractor Salini – of 3 years overdrawn Kampala Northern Bypass fame – which was awarded the deal without any apparent international bidding. This immediately opened the door for more allegations over shadowy practices.
An article last year on this subject in eTurboNews drew sustained comments from Ethiopia, giving the clear impression of a concerted and managed effort with the language used, adding to concerns that government and its blinded supporters could and would resort to literally anything to get their way. This has fallen hard also on the communities in Ethiopia who will be displaced by the new dam and power plant, and their representatives have often been harassed, even arrested, for daring to speak up against the roughshod fashion their interests are being treated by the government in Addis Ababa.
Suggestions, therefore, that these communities were the primary or principal beneficiaries are hollow and largely baseless, as they are being displaced, and the traditional way of life is being taken from them. Very likely in the future, they will be condemned to live in shanty towns and urban slums. It remains to be seen if Addis responds at all to this strengthening sentiment and movement against the dam, and considering the growing unrest in parts of Africa, the regime in Addis would be well advised to avoid any further hotspots of discontent than they already have.
Comments
Thanks god! at least the Kenyans are allowed to demonstrate unlike the Ethiopians who are under Tigre/Eritia Dictotorships rule who are never allowed to demonitrated.
Ethiopian will do what ever they want to do with the resourses ones they are free from Tigre/Eritia Ditators.
Dear Wolfgang H. Thome, Your Ancestors came to Our land and thanks to God we Ethiopian thought them a lesson, you know it better than anybody and With God still we are strong enough to teach any lesson to anyone who might want to come in that century ago mentality. Are you really for African? Since when? Do think that we don't know you? We know you better than you know yourselves so go and fool those Kenyans who worship White as their God but We Ethiopian killed them and thought your fathers a lesson for their evilness.
Are you really for the people of Africa? No it is impossible for the Satan to teach Bible rather kills the believers.
WE Ethiopian and the other African know that you are a poisoned Snake to the peace of African and you don't want to see African developed that is the evilness of you.
No matter what you are doing or where you are going Ethiopian is forwarding the development
Death to you and your followers.
Since when you start having good thought for African? Didn’t your Ancestors came to Africa killed African men, raped their mother and sisters and sold the rest them like tools more over hold their fertile land. Thanks to GOD AND Our Brave FOTHERS AND MOTHER THEY MADE HISTORY AND ASHAMED YOUR ANCESTORS,I can see that you have the same mentality of the colonial era shame on you .Go and fool those who didn't know you better like us, SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHE. Still you are fooling Kenyans as if you stand for the seek of poor African. The problem of African today is you and those who follow you and support your evil doing. Are you still telling us that you stand for the people of Africa whom you sold, killed rape and destroy their live hood stepped on their Freedom and dignity just yesterday just yesterday, it was not so fare.
Please Kenyan you should not be fooled by white again Just wake up and understand them.
Do you remember the yesterday's history of your Colonial system when they came to the Highland of Kikuyu and they fool you as if they came as a Missionary to Teach the Bible in 1845 But sooner announced that Kenya is their Colony, you are sold like a goods, beaten like a mad dog, you were naked of your culture uprooted your likelihood and freedom.
Is there anybody understands those people better than you people? Are you still listening to them?
The answer is yours
Ethiopia will continue to complete the proposal
MAY GOD BLESS ETHIOPIAN
AND THEIR PEOPLE AS WE ALL TURE AFRICANS
You stupid antidevelopment environmentalists! The dam will benefit morethan 100,000,000 people both in kenya and ethiopia. What is your problem then? Wethere you like it or not the dam will come in to reality even with our own money.
Period!
We Ethiopians lived in poverty for more than six decades by the cause of the people like Mr. Leaky and family's untouchable Turkana colonial land plus the British and the Egyptians unimaginable signature on our own water. Mr. Leaky and his so called studying group made serious damage on our country, which was planned to beg them for ever. That was not only now but since Haile Selassie was on power. Mr. Leaky and his group robbed the Northern Kenya Turkana fertile land and used it for almost one century. Their shroud mentality never stopped there in Kenya, also trying to penetrate towards Ethiopia with fake environmental research slogan for the purpose of sabotaging of loan. They bought a person from BC Canada (BCIT) to discover for their success of ill-fated dream on River Omo and managed to go all the way to Mursi community who were never complained against our government throughout their life, but they angered the innocent nomadic population which is more than environmental issue but interference over country’s sovereignty. The Leak’s family plan was not research but trying to make us not to delete our bad reputation of starvation. The people of Turkana were not the only people who had been hurt by drought, but there are lots of community who had been suffered from it while the Omo water was flowing through there for years and years. For example: Mursi, Geleb, Mesketo, Konta, Kulo and etc....
River Omo and River Nile were belongs to us, our dam had nothing to do with Lake Turkana or with Egypt. The water had to flow to Lake Turkana or Egypt but on its way it has to spine some few turbines to create electric power which means killing two birds with one stone. Is that a crime? If somebody says yes, then, we will use our water for everything, let’s see what would happen to us, or for Mr. WEAKY LEAKYS.
Wolfgang aka Hitler junior. you are another economic hit man with journalist clothes.
Ethiopians will build whatever they want at their river.If you don't like it hang yourself & DON'T STOP YOUR CROCODILE TEARS.
You guys are 24/7 working hard to creat war but still not succed.
We ethiopians minus the bandas lough AT you not WITH you.
As A senior hydrologist, I can tell you, there is no significant flactuation on the volume of the water if your concern is the level of the Lake. Previously the Lake has been down by 5 m due to drought. This condition will not be repeated under dam scenario. The water is used for Hydropower and the controlled release will in fact minimize Evaporation water loss over the vast plain and the Lake level will be revamped for good. secondly, the flood ravage casued on the Ethiopian side of the community will for good be reduced. Is that not the concern? Thirdly, the vulnerable community which was depending on recession agricultural and when inundation haven't occured suffers food production. This will for good be gone. I am not sure what the fuss is about. I can be challenged by any scienist or in any international arena that the environmental consequence by the hydrological regime change is in acceptable range in upstream reaches and not at all any significant impact on the Lake. I guess it is business and it is their right to do business but not by abusing science and community.
I think you guys need to think straight.First of all power generation is no consumptive use of water so the lake will not be threatened in the long term basis.Second we care about our people more than any other white guy so please stope shading these crocodile tears.This way there will be constant firm yield from the reservoir and artificial controlled flooding which will transfer the people in the bank of the river safe, stable life style based on irrigation.The white people are crying foul only because they wanted to see people walking around naked in the jungle.or they want to sell their so called renewable energy appliances.Do you know that international river is financed by a Dutch wing energy appliances manufacturer?
So wake up Kenyans!How many times will you be fooled by white people?
They colonized you,they keep you walking around with your cows and they enjoy that and you sing to their tune!
Wolfgang H. Thome,
You said this: "as they are being displaced, and their traditional way of life is being taken from them."
Hey, think twice before you haste to write crap. You are number one witness why this river has to be put to generate electricity to change the backward life of our people on this side of the river. The truth I know is this is being done in consultation with the Kenyan government and the latter has agreed on its constrcuction. Why are you lamenting here, then? You talked about 'hotspots' the civil unrests on some parts of Africa; kikiki this is laughable. The reality is otherwise. It will unify the Ethiopian people and support it in Unison. So do not grumble here, Mr. Walfgang. Have the concern for your own country and not ours. Gilgel Gibe will go operational for sure (100%). PERIOD
Herr Wolfgang got it wrong, once again! Ethiopia will develop the Omo basin, even if the Chinese were to be pressured by Dr Leakey and his lackeys. Ethiopia is one of the fastest countries in the World according to the Economist magazine and can tap its burgeoning coffer and there is nothing this Neo Nazi can do to thwart its determination so that Leakey and all these environmental liberal wackos who want to keep the Nation at a stand still. I am sure Wolfgang and his buddies will love to see all of Africa to be in the ' Stone age' so that they can come and laugh at us. The ' exotic tribes' in Ethiopia have been a ' subject of interest' for these wackos along with International Rivers and Survival International who distribute magazines with their pictures to solicit funds from a lot of liberal-leaning bored millionaires who enjoy looking at the pictures. I am aware with the Poverty industry and that of the Environmental lobbysts in the US and most, if not all, survive on such lucrative ' trade', if i may qualify it as such. It is a shame that Herr Wolfgang whose Nation gave us Hitler and the Stasis is rooting for those residing in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian govt has been known to be pro development and has the interest of its citizenry ' at heart' according to all reports regarding its activity. If folks like Leakey and Wolfgang want to stop the unstoppable, History will judge them the same way it did those who introduced us to genocide and Holocaust. In lieu of trying to shed crocodile tears, Wolfgang and his fat donors can come up with a research on mitigating some of the consequence of such massive undertaking. They have the resources and compare to the amount of elephants and rhinos ( millions of them) which were massacred by their ancestors, it is a bargain. I hope one day the International Criminal Tribunal will come to its senses and tabulate the cost of the massacre of these mammals. As Leakey and his buddies who are behind this racist campaign against Ethiopia are interested in watching at the Mursi and Hamer tribes the same way they did at the antelopes , it is a good comparison. the difference is in the good old days they aimed their guns at them, while these days they shoot their pix and make them a ' mockery'!
I wonder why, all the Europeans/ colonialists always find a way to attack Africa through Kenya?
It is a great shame that, Kenya is and has been the gate of colonial oppression of Africans. I lived in Kenya to witness how white people are treated as God, and fellow Africans as idiots.
They seem to advise the nomads living in the omo valley to stay living it the same style they have been for centuries. but th reality is the Omo nomads, the Nairobi or moyale people all seek and deserve better life, so what is wrong with changing the Omo valley nomads life? OMG they want it as an Entry point. Look, Dear Kenyan brothers and Sisters, This is a very shameful argument which Egypt the so called big power never succeed to stop Ethiopia let alone Kenya. So fact is we Ethiopians are looking for better future for our selfs and for our neighborer and for the entire Africa. Any one who attempt to miscalculate our Unity against defending our beloved nation is some thing we never compromise. So my advice is instead of looking for some destructive alternatives come and let's negotiate which overweights over what. We need power we need change in our people's living style. we are building dam for power not for irrigation and hydro never reduce water rather regulates flow. so please agree for truth unless, consequences will be bad for Kenya
Hi guys
let me tell u an Ethiopian proverb which says the dogs bark but the camel will continue its way with no fear.
the westerners are dare to make us beggars of their wheat for all the time.
NGOs please give us a break so that we develop and grow. thanks.
We Ethiopians lived in poverty for more than six decades by the cause of the people like Mr. Leaky and family's untouchable Turkana colonial land plus the British and the Egyptians unimaginable signature on our own water. Mr. Leaky and his the so called studding group made serious damage on our country, which was planned to make us to beg them for ever.That was not only now but since Haile Selassie was on power. Mr. Leaky and his group robbed the Northern Kenya Turkana fertile land and used it for almost one century. Their shroud mentality never stopped there in Kenya, also trying to penetrate towards Ethiopia with fake environmental research slogan for the purpose of sabotaging of loan. They bought a person from BC Canada (BCIT) to discover for their success of ill-fated dream on River Omo and managed to go all the way to Mursi community who were never complained against our government throughout their life, but they angered the innocent nomadic population which is more than environmental issue but interference over country’s sovereignty. The Leak’s family plan was not research but trying to make us not to delete our bad reputation of starvation. The people of Turkana were not the only people who had been hurt by drought, but there are lots of community who had been suffered from it while the Omo water was flowing through there for years and years. For example: Mursi, Geleb, Mesketo, Konta, Kulo and etc.... What Mr. Leaky group did to Turkana people? Nothing!
River Omo and River Nile were belongs to us, our dam had nothing to do with Lake Turkana or with Egypt. The water had to flow to Lake Turkana or Egypt but on its way it has to spine some few turbines to create electric power which means killing two birds with one stone. Is that a crime? If somebody says yes, then, we will use our water for everything, let’s see what would happen to us, or for Mr. WEAKY LEAKYS.
Dear Sirs,
why bother with the same grandsons of Mengistu, today under different flag, who have nothing constructive to say. The African uprising will reach Addis too and maybe then sense returns to that country also. Paid by masters they sing the same song every day.
Yours faithfully
Mukasa Fred M.
We are brothers we will share the benefit and the losses. Colonialists please don't disturb us. Allow us to power our region!!!
This is our River, we will and we can Build the Dam.
This is just stupid people, do not have nothing to do, but just put away their dirty mouth and false accusation. All Ethiopian and Ethiopian Gove. just do what you are doing. This crap will stop talking and accusation when get tired. We will do everything in Ethioipia, but not in Kenya, Sudan or Egypt....beleive or not.
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