Egypt and Kenya in water row

The Egyptian Government has expressed its disappointment after Kenya announced its intention to withdraw from the 1929 Nile Basin Treaty.

The treaty restricts Kenya from using waters from Lake Victoria in the west, which is a source for the River Nile.

The Kenyan Government says the treaty benefits Egypt and Britain and it will no longer honour it.

Egypt's Minister for Water and Natural Resources Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, says the move is a breach of international law.

Fair share

"This action will seriously hurt diplomatic co-operation and if you look at the laws and regulations, this action is not right." Mr Abu-Zeid told Kenya's East African Standard newspaper.

The Kenyan Parliament on Thursday, passed a motion asking the government to re-negotiate the Nile Basin Treaty.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula told parliament it had not been consulted before the treaty was signed.

Mr Wetangula said eight main rivers in Kenya pour into Lake Victoria and the government will ensure it gets a fair share from the treaty.

The countries that signed the treaty cannot undertake any project affecting the Nile that could prejudice Egypt's interests.

The Nile Basin Treaty is signed by Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.