REF - PETITION TO REVOKE THE COLONIAL BILATERAL BRITISH- EGYPT 1929 NILE TREATY

Hon Speaker.

Kindly refer to Senate petition dated 28^th July, 2021;12/5/PETITIONS/No.096(1|18)2021(1).

THAT the preamble of our Constitution states, we the People are committed to nurturing and protecting the well being of the individual, the family, communities and the nation.

We Bunge La Mwanainchi members, East Africa Climate Change Network, Free Kenya Movement,Haki Africa, farmers, ASAL Communities, fisher folks,traditionalists, religious and higher education institutions at the sidelines of Africa Climate Week event themed-Unlocking Nature-based Solutions for Trans-formative Climate Adaptation in Africa hereby petition the Kenya Parliament,ACS Commission the African Union,UNEP, European Union, EAC, the 8 Riparian counties Presidents and parliaments.

That in November 1869 the rulers of Egypt witnessed Europe ships participate in opening of the Suez Canal by crossing from Port Said-Mediterranean to the Red Sea. The memorable journey was a climax of 10 years work by French engineer and diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, to connect South –North-East traffic merchants shipping from Europe to Asia and countries in Eastern Africa.

To sustain the management of Suez Canal the colonial and cunning British regime connived and cajoled European countries and powers to be, into partitioning of Africa in 1896, the British ended up annexing  countries within and along Lake Victoria,White and Blue Nile.  

That the 1929 Nile Treaty Agreement (NTA) was a bilateral treaty between Egypt Government and British Government, a bilateral treaty which  bounds its extension to all its former colonies. 

That the Egypt government overt threats of  war to protect its Nile Hydro- Hegemony, it’s no longer in doubts that time for all independent riparian countries to disassociate themselves from this colonial Treaty signed on their behalf by its colonial masters.

The treaty required that no irrigation or power works or measures are to be constructed or taken on the River Nile or its tributaries or on the lakes from which it flows, as of all those in Sudan or in the countries under British administration, the perennial flooding’s in Kenya such as Budalangi, Nzoia and Yala rivers cannot be resolved without addressing this Neo-colonial madness.

We attest that in 1956 following the independence of Sudan a review of the Treaty was undertaken and by 1959 November revised agreement between the Egypt and Sudan was achieved.

That in the spirit of Brexit-We call for the intervention of European Union in giving input in regards to the Suez Canal and its historical engagements.

At the height of Africa Climate Summit-Week we call for urgent and total renege the colonial 1929 Nile Treaty Agreements.The basis to reneging this Neo-colonial agreement shall be within the 2010 Kenya constitution Article 1 and its corresponding powers and authorities as vested in Kenya Parliament  in the matter of cause 2(5)(6) and 118(1)(b) and Section 8 of treaty making  and ratification Act 2012 through the National Assembly and the Kenya Senate.

By reneging and withdrawing from the colonial 1929 Nile Treaty Agreement, Kenya Government will greatly benefit by redirecting water ways and lakes draining into Lake Victoria during flooding seasons, for massive irrigation thus  meeting its food security by reclaiming and restoring its vast Arid and Semi-Arid lands, similarly harness the clean energy power from water,meet  its respective  international obligations i.e Achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, specifically end poverty in all its form, No Hunger, god health and well being achieve quality education, supplement gender equality, accessible quality energy, innovations and job opportunity,contribute towards adaptation and mitigating the Climate Change.

That Kenya statistic indicates that Kenya, Southern Sudan, Ethiopia  and Somalia need a staggering 7.7 Trillion to effectively address their climate change challenges.

Our  Prayers:

We strongly believe the riparian countries i.e. Kenya Uganda, Tanzania needs to develop water generated Hydroelectricity power,irrigation of its arid lands,drinking and salvaging Serengeti and Masai Mara wild animals from drought, famine  due to water scarcity.

That Kenya stands to achieve its ambitious  15 Billion Tree planting drive and contribute to its target of 100 per cent clean energy by the year 2030.

That the continuous adhering to this colonial agreement has allowed the British continuous interfere with internal affairs of riparian countries especially at the Presidential electoral process.

That if the developed countries fail to meet proposed new global taxes and reforms to international financial institutions to fund climate change action, the British government should shoulder and waive all the debts accrued by all riparian countries since construction of Suez Canal.