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{
"id": 1074176,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1074176/?format=api",
"text_counter": 137,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13162,
"legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank Sen. Cheruiyot for bringing up this matter. At this point in time, the areas of Nyando are flooded. Further afield in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, we have serious flooding. The solution has always been very artificial. Whenever there are floods, we go there with blankets, mattresses and sacks of maize and beans. In fact, the Ministry of Devolution has perfected the art of hiring helicopters to go to the flood zones to provide some tokens with the media in tow. The ultimate solution is the construction of this dam. The idea of this dam was conceived in the 1950s. To date, we have not been able to execute this project. Even as the Committee looks into this matter, the Head of State is expected to visit Kisumu and the Nyanza and Western regions over this weekend in advance of the Madaraka Day celebrations. This is one of those issues we want to have a candid discussion on with the Head of State. The Government of Kenya is excellent when it comes to design, ideation and creating a vision. However, it is horrible when it comes to project execution, and particularly, procurement. Many of these grand projects were conceived many years ago. Everything is okay on paper, but when it comes to implementation, nothing happens. We want to tell the President that the people that he has delegated executive authority to are letting him down. As far as the President is concerned, the tender was awarded and he believes that work is happening. However, there are some middle level bureaucrats who want to take advantage of the situation. Sometimes it is propelled by ideas of kickbacks, yet our people are suffering. Mr. Speaker, Sir, every year, Members of Parliament (MPs) are told that we are doing nothing. Every year, every season, and even today, my people in Homa Bay are camping in primary schools, even with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, because of flooding, yet, the Government has the resources and right ideas to control this matter. As Sen. Cheruiyot pursues the solution, this is not just a matter for Kericho, but the entire Wester region. If you look at the cases of land compensation for this project, more landowners were compensated on the Kisumu side than the Kericho side. I do not want us to say that this is owned by a certain community or county. This is something of great importance to the people of Kenya. If we fix this problem, we shall also boost food security. The areas of Nyando, Soin and Koru have got some of the richest soils in this Republic. If we can just control the floods through the dam, we will not be talking about food donations and helicopters bringing yellow maize and beans whenever the floods hit. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support. I will personally follow up this matter, alongside Sen. Cheruiyot, Sen. Outa, Sen. Cherargei, and all the other concerned Senators. When we have a conversation with the President this weekend, we shall bring to his attention that some people are letting him down in procurement and project execution."
}