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{
"id": 1410421,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410421/?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": 1410422,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410422/?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": 1410423,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410423/?format=api",
"text_counter": 560,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Applause)"
},
{
"id": 1410424,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410424/?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": 1410425,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410425/?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": 1410426,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410426/?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."
},
{
"id": 1410427,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410427/?format=api",
"text_counter": 564,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute. At the outset, I join my colleagues in sending condolences to the families which have lost their loved ones through the disaster that we have witnessed in this country. It is a big concern. I cannot say that the situation we are in was unforeseen. We knew the rains were coming. As a country, how are we prepared to manage disasters? The level of preparedness is wanting. I have been in Nairobi City County long enough. Prior to the start of the rains, I used to witness serious works along our roads; clearing and cleaning of the trenches and water drainage systems. By the time the rains start, the water has its way and flows away. We have never witnessed the kind of floods that we have today. Whereas some incidences are unavoidable, there are certain deaths that could have been avoided or prevented. Today, even the kind of works done on the roads are very shoddy. The waste is removed from the water drainage system and trenches, and dumped right on top of the surface next to the drainage. So, when the rain comes what happens? The waste is pushed back into the trenches and the systems are blocked. The national Government and county government agencies concerned need to get serious. The lives lost in riparian areas should not have been lost. In the first place, why do they allow citizens to build houses in those areas, and yet we have laws that guide that?"
},
{
"id": 1410428,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410428/?format=api",
"text_counter": 565,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
"speaker": null,
"content": "As a country, we need to be serious. We should not wait until a disaster happens then we start running up and down. We know that whenever it rains, we will have challenges in Budalang’i, Busia County because River Nzoia will flood. It has happened before so we are not reinventing the wheel. Why should we not address this issue once and for all? Why do we not dig trenches to accommodate the huge volumes of water whenever there is a lot of rain so that we can prevent some of these disasters?"
},
{
"id": 1410429,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410429/?format=api",
"text_counter": 566,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
"speaker": null,
"content": "It is high time we put in place preventive measures as opposed to the opposite; what we are witnessing happening across the country. Every area of the country is flooded and classrooms are collapsing. I got a call that two classrooms in Omoloi Primary School have collapsed and I am wondering where the children will learn from."
},
{
"id": 1410430,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1410430/?format=api",
"text_counter": 567,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
"speaker": null,
"content": "There is a place called Goria in my constituency which is an island at this time. People cannot cross to the other side because of floods near the border. There are floods everywhere although not of the same magnitude. We have to get serious, put preventive mechanisms in place and resources to address this issue. We cannot lose Kenyans during drought because there is no food and continue to lose them when it rains. This year is the worst."
}
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