Deforestation, funding difficulties delayed Sondu-Miriu project

By Jackson Okoth

Destruction of the Mau complex remained in the limelight even as President Kibaki official opened the 60 megawatts Sondu Miriu hydropower station in Nyakach district.

This power station sits on river Sondu, one of the six major rivers in Lake Victoria basin.

The river originates from the Western slopes of the Mau Escarpment, now a subject of intense debate as communities in the Mau complex resist eviction plans by the Government.

Financed on a Sh14.7 billion loan from the Government of Japan, supply from this plant is expected to connect to surrounding towns of Katito, Kendu Bay and parts of Nyakach and Rachuonyo districts.

Commissioning of this power project comes at a time the country faces energy shortage. Completion of the Sondu-Miriu project has been delayed after a number of NGOs raised concerns over the project’s environmental impact.

Affected communities complained about the poor compensation, corruption and lack of transparency.

This forced the Japan Bank For International Cooperation to suspend its funding eight years ago. This is after significant resistance by affected communities and NGOs, but re–committed to completing the dam in November 2004.

In January 2005, the country’s then environmental minister declared that Sondu–Miriu will be a "white elephant" if heavy deforestation continues in the watershed, as increased siltation from the eroded landscape would wash into the river, shortening the life of the dam.

The project’s delay has also been attributed to funding problems.