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{
"id": 1408481,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408481/?format=api",
"text_counter": 554,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Cherorot",
"speaker": null,
"content": "goods and services. Different parts of the country risk price variations leading to uncontrolled demand as supply will be affected in one way or another. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has since closed the Mai Mahiu-Narok Road due to its impassability caused by the aftermath of the old Kijabe Dam burst. The continued extensive rains have also wreaked havoc elsewhere. Other major roads which have been closed include the Murang’a–Kiria-ini Road which connects Nyeri and Murang'a counties, and the Garissa–Madogo Road, which serves as a major network for goods and transport. As a result of the excessive rains, the Government, through the Ministry of Education, also called off the re-opening of schools due to safety concerns for the learners and the risks of commuting to their respective schools as evidenced by the bad roads. Needless to say, some schools have been hit hard by the floods and are in a bad state. They are thus uninhabitable by the learners. More than 70 per cent of Kenyans depend on day-to-day activities and events for their daily meals. Therefore, the continuous floods, which have disrupted normal activities, have rendered them destitute and lacking food and other basic needs. Flooding is also associated with the loss of business trading activities thus leading to a greater number of the population being forced to eke out a living through life-threatening measures. The aggravated loss of livelihood and businesses is irreparable, irredeemable and needs to be swiftly responded to. As Kenyans, we need to reflect on the much talked about climate change and its impacts, whether short-term, medium-term, or long-term. It is prudent to appreciate that the current floods are not only hitting Kenya, but also the larger East African region, with Tanzania also reporting wide impacts of the same. In addition, floods are also being reported in the Middle East, China and other parts of the world. As a country, we need to embrace policies put in place by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since the rains started, over 50,000 citizens have been displaced. The situation keeps worsening as the rains increase day by day. The displaced citizens are in dire need of basic needs. They are looking up to the Government, well-wishers and other stakeholders to help them. This House is not excluded."
},
{
"id": 1408482,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408482/?format=api",
"text_counter": 555,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Cherorot",
"speaker": null,
"content": "As I conclude, I urge this House that as we ventilate on this topical issue, we propose tangible measures on mitigating the effects of floods. We should also call for a co-ordinated approach in responding to such effects. In the wisdom of this House, we should also propose that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) save some of their allocated budget and donate such resources to the flood victims."
},
{
"id": 1408483,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408483/?format=api",
"text_counter": 556,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Cherorot",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1408484,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408484/?format=api",
"text_counter": 557,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Martha Wangari",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13123,
"legal_name": "Martha Wangari",
"slug": "martha-wangari"
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"content": " Thank you. Hon. Members, I wish to remind you that this being Motion of Adjournment on a Matter of Urgent National Importance, each Member will have five minutes. However, I will give Hon. Irene Mayaka a maximum of 10 minutes because she had an identical Motion. Hon. Irene, take this chance to contribute."
},
{
"id": 1408485,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408485/?format=api",
"text_counter": 558,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Irene Mayaka",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support this Motion. Indeed, I had a similar Motion because this is a matter that has really affected many Kenyans. Before I give my remarks on this Motion, firstly, I express my sincere condolences to all the Kenyans who have lost their loved ones. I also sympathise with the families that have been affected by the ongoing floods. This is one of those issues that I urge the Government to declare as a national disaster. This is because it has not only cost lives but also affected major infrastructure in the country. One of the main roads that connects many Kenyans around the country, Mai Mahiu – Narok Road, has been closed. We all know that its closure means that the Western, Rift Valley, and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1408486,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408486/?format=api",
"text_counter": 559,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Irene Mayaka",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Nyanza parts of Kenya are literally disconnected from Nairobi City County. This issue has affected children and mothers. We saw incidences of young children at the rooftops of their houses because of being helpless. They do not know what they need to do. We got reports that there would be El Nino about nine months ago. However, it did not happen at the time it was expected to start. So, we took our feet off the gear, in terms of disaster preparedness. We stopped being vigilant about floods. Even before we ask the national Government questions, we need to find out what the county governments have done. This is because the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act gives two per cent of the funds allocated to them for disaster management emergencies. Some of the counties that have been adversely affected by the floods like Nairobi City, Nakuru, Marsabit, Narok and Murang’a have excess money that they can use to help those who are indisposed. Today, the Cabinet directed that the people residing in areas affected by floods to move out within 48 hours. However, where will they move to? By now, we should have rescue centres in the affected areas, so that the victims can be rescued to higher grounds. There is a saying that when the waters are hungry and they want to reclaim their space, there is nothing you can do about it. Because of our greed to have property in different places, people have even built in riparian lands. So, the waters do not have anywhere to flow to. When the water passes through its natural course, it will flow where it wants to and there is nothing you can do about it. I have heard people comparing the situation here to what is happening in Dubai and Australia. They said that we should not feel like Kenyans are not ready. However, these countries have already or quickly put in place measures to ensure that they rescue their people. As Kenyans, what are we doing? I invite all of us to look at the issue of preparedness. We are one of those countries with the best policies in disaster management. For example, we have the National Policy for Disaster Management, National Disaster Management Authority Act, 2019 which was further amended in 2021, and the National Disaster Response Plan. We have the required papers to put in place measures to address this situation. However, what do we do? We end up having knee-jerk reactions to issues all the time. People panic and start wondering what to do, yet we have these papers that are just gathering dust that have put in place plans that are properly laid down. Today, the President visited the flood victims in Mai Mahiu. About two days ago, we also had a similar situation in Garissa where we lost many people. However, nobody has gone there. Is Garissa not part of Kenya?"
},
{
"id": 1408487,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408487/?format=api",
"text_counter": 560,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Applause)"
},
{
"id": 1408488,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408488/?format=api",
"text_counter": 561,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Irene Mayaka",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Why is it that there are no senior officials from the National Government who have visited the people in Garissa to find out what is going on there? We talk about issues all the time. However, what are the solutions? How have we prepared the people who live around the flood-prone areas to know what to do when a disaster like this happens? Recently, we had a sad situation where we watched people hop into a lorry that was already being driven very closely to a river. They ended up losing their lives as a joke. We should have people like the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) and police officers in some of these locations to tell people not to drive in these areas. Why do people travel towards those directions, inviting and walking towards death, yet we should know better than that? This is an issue that has invited a lot of attention from most Members. I do not have to finish the 10 minutes to make my point. I have already made it. As a House, we must look for tangible solutions and push for this issue to be declared a national disaster. This will ensure The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1408489,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408489/?format=api",
"text_counter": 562,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Irene Mayaka",
"speaker": null,
"content": "that the necessary policies and regulations that follow through such an issue can quickly take effect. This will ensure that we do not lose more lives. Finally, Hon. Temporary Speaker, we heard the other knee-jerk reaction that was given on Monday at 1.00 a.m. where children were told not to report to school. If the floods will not end on 6th May, what next? We need to hear the plans the Cabinet Secretary for Education has put in place. If the floods continue, these children will never go back to school. Are there alternative measures in place for the parents and children who will not be in school? This is because it is driving everyone into panic. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I support the Motion."
},
{
"id": 1408490,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1408490/?format=api",
"text_counter": 563,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Martha Wangari",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13123,
"legal_name": "Martha Wangari",
"slug": "martha-wangari"
},
"content": " Member for Teso South, Hon. Mary Emaase."
}
]
}