The Korando community in Kisumu have opposed a multi-billion shillings waste water project being implemented by the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency.
They have vowed to resist the implementation of the Sh7.5 billion project citing lack of public involvement.
On Sunday, the residents staged a peaceful protest to register their displeasure with how the project is being executed.
Last Monday, through Olendo, Orare & Samba advocates, the residents wrote to the agency.
They accused the project consultant and local administrators of buying people who are not within the project area to endorse it while ignoring to consult those who will be affected directly by the project.
The letter seen by the Star read in part "Our services have been retained by our above-named clients with firm instruction to address you regarding the proposed construction of the said treatment plant within their homes in Korando."
According to the letter, the residents of Korando held a meeting on August 1 where they said no to the construction of a waste water facility within their fragile ecosystem.
The lawyer says that the project's target area is prone to flooding and backflow from the lake.
"Further to the foregoing, our clients have noted with great concerns the modus operandi applied by the project consultants— Integrated Science and Engineering Projects Limited—who are calling a few selected individuals/residents to areas out of the project area and or government offices, pay them small tokens and ask them to sign a list to show that they have received the money," it reads.
The residents dismissed a list that claimed to confirm the attendance of landowners in the public participation meeting before the area chief on August 2.
"Our clients further inform us that on June 5, 2013, and June 26, 2013, the firm of Otieno Odongo and Partners undertook a public participation on behalf of the project proponents and the residents said no to the construction of the waste water treatment plant/sewage within Korando and there have been no further engagements on the same to-date," the advocate's letter reads.
The lawyer states that the clients have further noted, from the website of Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency that the proposed project at Korando has been listed as an ongoing project which has been financed by the French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, European Union and the Government of Kenya at a cost of Sh7.5 billion.
"This is strange because the project has not even been proposed to the residents. This could be the reason why the same is being pushed and or rushed without adhering to the legal frameworks of undertaking such a project," the letter states.
In the letter, the residents demanded to be supplied with the feasibility study report and the project appraisal report.
"Our further instruction is to demand as we hereby do that the project proponents and project consultants should stop any further activities on the proposed projects as the residents do not want the waste water treatment/sewage within their locality."
The letter was copied to the county government of Kisumu, the National Environmental Management Authority and the project consultant.
Gerald Gawo, a resident who led the demonstration on Sunday, said over 1,000 families will be displaced by the project which will be implemented on a 78-acre piece of land.
"We are opposed to this project because we have not been consulted. Public participation was not done," he said.
Gawo said the field where the project will be located is serving as grazing land and is also being used for farming.
"The area is also being used by the community for settlement. We can't allow a project which will destroy our environment," he said.
Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency acting CEO Chrispine Juma declined to comment on the issue.
However, Kisumu county director of Nema Tom Togo appealed to residents to be patient, adding that the project was in the planning stages.
Togo who attended one of the project's meetings in Ojola said environmental impact assessment for the project will be done once the plan and design are complete.
"They should hold their horses. Even when the environmental impact assessment is being done, the community will be part of the process," he said.
Togo said the community's concerns such as compensation and environmental safety will be taken care of.
"We understand the apprehension of the community. In the past, such projects were implemented in haphazard ways that left affected residents exposed to environmental pollution during the now-defunct local authorities," he said.
The Nema official said the sewer treatment plant is important as it will take care of the expanding population on that side of Kisumu City.
"It will not be a lagoon as the residents imagine. It will be a modern treatment plant that will not interfere with the environment," he said.
But Gawo said Korando has donated land in the past to government projects with little gain to the community.
"We have Molasses plant, Kodiaga GK prison and KEMRI/CDC research centre in Kisian. All these were built in our land but we have little return to show for it as a community," he said.
-Edited by SKanyara
