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{
    "id": 1096413,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1096413/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 259,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mwea, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Josphat Kabinga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13441,
        "legal_name": "Josphat Kabinga Wachira",
        "slug": "josphat-kabinga-wachira-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. This Bill is of interest to the people of Mwea because they work tirelessly to feed this country with rice through irrigation schemes in Mwea. It is for the same reasons that I came into this House almost 40 minutes before time. I am surprised that I was not first on your list. The amendments before us are important to strengthen the Act that was passed in 2019. Prior to that, we had an archaic Act. It was colonial. We used to refer to it as Cap. 347. It was through tireless efforts in 2018 and 2019 that this House came up with an Irrigation Act that improved the management of irrigation schemes in this country. The amendments that we are currently considering are important for the full operationalisation of the National Irrigation Authority that was created through the 2019 Act. However, a number of issues were noted in that Act that necessitated this particular amendment Bill. Before I make remarks on some of the amendments, let me thank the Government because of the seriousness it has taken on irrigation schemes. I know a number of Members have noted some shortcomings in some of the irrigation schemes. The speaker before me mentioned Thiba Dam and I am not sure I understood what issues he has with it. Thiba Dam is in Kirinyaga County. It is a mega dam. It was almost a Kshs20 billion project. Currently, it is about 65 per cent completed and by December, we expect it to be fully complete. Once complete, we shall redouble the production of rice in Mwea and be able to feed this country by almost 50 per cent of our rice requirements. That is a major milestone. I commend the National Irrigation Authority, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and the entire Government for ensuring that that project is completed on time, which will be a major milestone for this country. Some of the amendments raised in this Bill are very important. One of them is to ensure that the National Irrigation Authority can attain the necessary quorum to enable it to proceed with 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."
}