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{
"id": 1009435,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1009435/?format=api",
"text_counter": 132,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Makali Mulu",
"speaker": {
"id": 1955,
"legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
"slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
},
"content": "When you look at the object of this Bill, it is to ensure that there is a centralised coordination of disaster management in this country. My colleagues have mentioned a number of disasters that have happened in this country. The fact that we are now talking about the National Disaster Management Authority which will coordinate - in a centralised way - all disaster management in this country, will be an advantage. There are quite a number of benefits that come with that kind of National Disaster Management Authority. The first benefit is that there will be quick response to disasters when they happen in this country. We have experiences and examples in this country where the response to disaster took so long that, at the end of the day, we ended up losing lives. This Authority will be like a one-stop center where, if you report or get there, action will be taken without wasting a lot of time. That will be good for the country. The second benefit is the management of resources. This country has so much in terms of public resources that are scattered in different institutions. In that case, it becomes difficult to know how much money is available and how it can be applied. With this Authority, what will happen is that, we will be able to know how much is available at any point so that, when it comes to the application of those resources, there will be fairness. If I can remember, about two years ago, we saw situations where heavy rains caused some people to lose their houses through demolitions and others through earthquakes. Some people were able to have new houses constructed for them while others got nothing. When that happens in this country, some people start feeling they are less Kenyans than others. With that kind of Authority, it will be possible to ensure that there is fairness when it comes to mitigating disaster and every Kenyan will have a sense of belonging in terms of benefitting from disaster funds. At the same time, there are a lot of resources in other organisations like Non-Governments Organizations (NGOs), for example, the Red Cross. We also have the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). So long as those resources are connected in a centralised way, it will be of benefit. The third benefit is the early warning monitoring system. If we are able to monitor and get early warnings, we can reduce cases of disaster. In that case, Kenyans will benefit because, by the time disaster strikes, they will be prepared such that within a short time, they will be out of that disaster with the assistance from the Government or NGOs. As we look at this Bill, I want to urge my colleagues to fast-track it before the end of the term of this Parliament so that it does not lapse and then it is restarted in the 13th Parliament. If we do that, we will have done a good thing for Kenyans and we will be assisting this country. As I conclude, generally in this country, there are some disasters which are predictable. For example, we know that when rains are not there, some areas will not have food. So, we have to prepare for food relief. In some areas, when the rains are heavy, there will be landslides. So, we have to prepare for that. The component of early warning is important. I want to reemphasise the fact that when that National Disaster Management Authority is established, one of the things it must seriously do is early warning preparedness so that, at the end of the day, Kenyans can know, for example that, next month or next year and the following year, they are likely to have a disaster so that they can prepare themselves. With those remarks, I support. Thank you."
}