European Union withholds Sh3.8bn for water project
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Stefano Dejak. The EU has suspended funding for a Sh3.8 billion water conservation project following reports of eviction of the Seng’wer, a community from Embobut forest. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The suspension of the EU-funded water towers programme comes following reports that 30-year-old Robert Kiprotich was gunned down by KFS rangers on Tuesday night.
- The project, started in 2016, aims at conserving two of Kenya’s five water towers — Mt Elgon and Cherangany.
The European Union has suspended funding for a Sh3.8 billion water conservation project following reports of eviction of the Seng’wer, a community from Embobut forest.
The Seng’wer number about 15,000.
The suspension of the EU-funded water towers programme comes following reports that 30-year-old Robert Kiprotich was gunned down by Kenya Forest Service rangers on Tuesday night, while Mr David Kosgei Kiptilkesi, 25, was shot and seriously injured.
“The shooting took place after we alerted the government that the use of force by KFS guards ... against innocent locals would lead the EU to suspend financial support for conservation work on the water towers,” EU ambassador to Kenya Stefano Dejak said on Wednesday.
WATER TOWERS
The project, started in 2016, aims at conserving two of Kenya’s five water towers — Mt Elgon and Cherangany.
The EU announcement came hours after Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International and Katiba Institute called for a 60-day moratorium on the project to allow an independent audit of KFS activities.
“The Seng’wer have a valid court order allowing them to remain in the forest and until their issues are dealt with, they should not be disturbed,” KNCHR vice chairman George Morara said in Nairobi.
Marakwet East Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Sangolo said security officers were provoked by armed civilians, a charge denied by Seng’wer spokesman Paul Kiptuga.
