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{
    "id": 1025293,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1025293/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 340,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kasipul, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Charles Ong’ondo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13366,
        "legal_name": "Charles Ong'ondo Were",
        "slug": "charles-ongondo-were-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I congratulate the Committee and myself, who is also a Member, for a job well done. You have noted the Report is too comprehensive and we had made Kenyans know first the dams were procured and the process was a failure. It is through this Report that Kenyans can now know that the Government entered into a very expensive financial model. It is through this Report that Kenyans can know that constructing a dam in Kenya is also too expensive. As my colleague has indicated earlier, I also had an opportunity to attend a water conference in Egypt. To our surprise, doing a multipurpose dam in Egypt cost around Ksh6 billion in comparison with Ksh30 billion spent to construct the same in Kenya which serves as a single source. In Egypt, a dam which is done at Ksh6 billion and done by the local engineers serves for irrigation, power generation and local water consumption. They have even constituted a water policy to take care of the dams. Even the communities living around dams enjoy the benefit of water from such dams. We have also noted that there is no equity in Kenya in the distribution of dams. We can say they are designed to benefit particular regions. I want to give an example of Soin-Koru Dam, which the Government approved. It has even taken years for approval and it is only one of its kind in that region. So, the Report is quite elaborate. We have also noted in the Report issues of bankruptcy of a firm in Italy, which raised a lot of questions. This is because when procurement or evaluation is done, a company cannot just become bankrupt within one year from the commencement of work. We believe in procuring of contractors for such a firm. Financial evaluation must be taken into consideration. This entails the cash flow and property investment, which once combined, brings financial soundness thus qualifying the company to be awarded. But, in this case, we were surprised. Was it in evaluation? Was it only a cash flow? Was the capital investment taken into consideration? If capital investment is taken into consideration, then a company cannot just be bankrupt within a very short time, less than a year. We have also made Kenyans know that contracts for construction of dams were done and awarded without consideration of the land issue, where the dam is to be constructed. For example, Kariminu II Dam, where a contract was awarded, over Ksh7 billion was paid as down payment, and nothing has been done three years down the line. It did not look well. So, our recommendations are well searched and if the House could approve, then it will assist Kenyans to get value for money. I, therefore, support. Thank you. 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."
}