Migration as a result of environmental injusctice in Kenya

[Anonymous Kenya 1 November 2017 at 16:16 Post count: 0]

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Cases Of Environmental Injustice In Kenya:

In Kenya, a 13.8 billion Dollar railway line between Mombasa and Nairobi is under construction. The line, managed by the East Africa Community, shall connect the six countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda with the aim, to create a politically united and secure East Africa. Trains shall go 120 kilometers per hour and journey time shall be reduces from twelve to four hours. The project wants to relieve Kenya’s transport network and to stimulate tourism. It is built by state-owned Chinese company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and financed over 90 percent by the Chinese Import-Export-Bank. China finances many construction projects in African countries, 2025, the investment will reach 1 trillion dollars. The railway line can carry 25 million tons per year. It is obvious, that the line is able to transport many natural resources fast and easily to the East African harbor, which is the very next to China. Maybe this is why the country invests so much in this project?

But there are also other problems with the construction. The proposed route would cut into Nairobi’s wildlife sanctuary, which should be protected against such interventions. The solution is a six kilometer bridge above the national park, so animals can safely pass underneath. Richard Leakey, board chairman of the Kenyan Wildlife Service and a renowned conservationist, sees in the bridge the best option as a balance of wildlife and development concerns. In September 2016, there were protest marches in Nairobi against this compromise. It has been rushed for political reasons and without sufficient consideration of its threat to the country’s wildlife. A national park should be protected land without limits. The construction will inevitably effect the animals in the park.

There were also complaints over pay working conditions. The Chinese concern imported its own labor and refused employment to many Kenyans. In addition, firing workers without cause, inadequate compensation and poor working conditions are reported. CRBC is accused of stealing water from local rivers and secretly dredging sand from Kenyan beaches for construction material, without regard to ownership and biodiversity at the beaches. Residents are not asked before the line is constructed on their land.

Other problems are: —Extreme drought conditions force pastoralists out of their traditional grazing lands into farmer fields resulting in conflict over water points and grazing fields. The Death Of Livestock From Wild Animals and Pre-mature Harvesting Of Crops.

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