FUNYULA, Kenya, Apr 2 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called on Uganda to respect Kenya’s territorial boundaries and relinquish claims of ownership of the Migingo Island in Lake Victoria.
He said on Thursday that available information and maps dating as far back as 1926 indicated that the Island was in Kenya and therefore the question of the Island’s ownership should not arise.
Saying the issue of Migingo should not be allowed to mar the existing good relations among the East African countries, the Premier asked Ugandan authorities to withdraw their troops and lower their flag that is currently flying on the Island.
“Kenyan portion of Lake Victoria is only six percent, it is therefore unfair for our neighbours who have huge areas to want to annex part of our tiny portion,” said the PM.
Mr Odinga was speaking at Nangina Girls High School in Samia district, where he was the guest of honour during the district’s Education Day.
He decried the falling education standards in the district, noting that according to last year’s Kenya Secondary School examination results only 13 students from the district qualified to join public universities.
He attributed the poor performance to lack of teachers, equipment and classrooms and directed the Ministry of Education to post 80 teachers to the district immediately, to address the shortage of teachers.
”I expect that you will continue to build classrooms through the Constituency Development Fund to uplift the education standards in this district,” the PM added.
The Premier pointed out that it was the government’s policy to give equal opportunities to all Kenyans irrespective of their social status, saying it will begin with the provision of quality education to the youth of this country.
On infrastructure, Mr Odinga pledged that the government would tarmac the Funyula-Sio Port-Port Victoria road, which goes along Lake Victoria, to enable fishermen access outside markets easily.
On the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme, the Prime Minister reiterated that it was an emergency programme to provide jobs for the youth who were involved in community work.
“We expect that 300,000 youth will benefit from this 15 billion shillings programme that aims at alleviating unemployment and fighting poverty in the country.”
The Premier also spoke about the just concluded Geneva conference called by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to review the state of the coalition government in Kenya, a year later.
Noting that Mr Annan came to Kenya’s rescue when the country was at cross roads, Mr Odinga advised politicians against insulting the former UN boss over the conference.
The Premier had earlier on Thursday made an inspection tour of development projects in Funyula constituency accompanied by local MP and Minister for Fisheries Paul Utouma.
They included opening of the CDF funded Bujwanga Secondary School, Bwangangi Primary School, Wakhungu fish farm, Matinga dam and the Ganga-Namuduru and Wakhungu-Sijowa rural access roads.
Also present were Cabinet Ministers Henry Kosgei, Franklin Bett and Fred Gumo.
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