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{
    "id": 1096417,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1096417/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 263,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mwingi Central, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gideon Mulyungi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13442,
        "legal_name": "Gideon Mutemi Mulyungi",
        "slug": "gideon-mutemi-mulyungi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. As my colleague, Hon. (Dr.) Oundo has said, water is life. Without water, there is no life. Even in this Chamber, we continuously drink water. Water is consumed by human beings, vegetation and animals. Seventy-one per cent of the world is covered with water yet we still experience drought in many areas in Kenya. We experience hunger and famine. Where I come from, women and children still go to fetch water many kilometres away from their homesteads. There is a particular place in my constituency called Ukasi, where women wake up at 4.00 a.m. to go and search for water. They return home in the evening. That is happening in 21st Century Kenya. Those areas have no water, rain or food. Many parts of this country face such challenges. There is no irrigation that can thrive without water. Where I come from, Kitui County; there is no single thriving irrigation scheme. Considering that the last rainfall we got was last year, the whole of Kitui County is hit by famine and lives are endangered for lack of food. I expect this Bill to address the gaps of food and water security. One of the key pillars of the Jubilee Administration is food security. Food security cannot be achieved without water. This Bill, under Clause 15, should have prioritised drought-stricken areas, which are essentially pastoralist areas. That clause is very superfluous. It just talks of provision of water, yet water can be provided anywhere. Irrigation can be done anywhere. However, priority should be given to drought-stricken areas and areas that are frequently hit by famine. The Bill should also prioritise provision of water for irrigation and livestock. In most of the conflict-prone areas, communities fight over water for their livestock. Therefore, I propose that we introduce provisions for construction of dams for purposes of livestock rearing as well as for irrigation. Livestock also competes with humans for the same water resources, which is also critical for farming and vegetation. Going forward, I propose that every household in Kenya must have a dam, especially in dry areas, so that people become food secure and have access to drinking water. With those proposals for amendment, I support."
}