Jane Akinyi
28 February 2008
Nairobi — A conservation project worth Sh4.4 billion for Lake Victoria is in jeopardy due to delay in disbursement of funds from the World Bank.
On Wednesday, scientists warned that the delay in the implementation of the second phase of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP) could spell doom for the lake, which is choking from massive pollution and weed invasion.
The project, expected to control hyacinth weed invasion among other problems, was to begin in April, but funds have not been released.
Dr Richard Abila, the assistant director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, however, said the delay was due to bureaucracy of the World Bank, which is funding the project in five East African countries.
The World Bank had set aside Sh13.5 billion for the five countries. Kenya was to get Sh4.4 billion.
Abila said preparations for the project had been halted since the World Bank had not released the money.
Some scientists, however, suspected that the World Bank was reluctant to release the money for fear that the country could slip into anarchy.
It was also not clear whether other countries had received their share.
The burning of a World Bank funded water quality laboratory and several project vehicles in Kisumu during post-election violence is also said to have angered the donors.
Abila said further violence could adversely affect the project. "The donor had invested a lot, which was destroyed during the violence. This might cost us a lot if the World Bank discontinues funding various programmes," he said.
A new weed, 'Hippo grass' is the next threat to the lake besides the water hyacinth. The weeds have disrupted normal operations at the lake.
Abila said the 'hippo grass' was more problematic as it grew faster. "It is thicker and heavier than hyacinth, making it water transport and fishing even more difficult," he said.
Much hope had been pegged on the second phase of LVEMP to help eradicate the weed.
Abila said mechanical means that had initially been applied reduced the weed to a manageable level, but was not effective.
He said the method was not only costly, but affected the quality of water, hence threatening marine life.
"More than Sh100 million was used in the mechanical method, but it did little to tame the weed and instead helped to further pollute the water," he said.
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