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{
    "id": 1096465,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1096465/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 311,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Lagdera, KANU",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mohamed Hire",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13397,
        "legal_name": "Mohamed Hire Garane",
        "slug": "mohamed-hire-garane-2"
    },
    "content": "we need to store the water, so that it can be used during the dry season for irrigation. The issue of constructing mega dams across our rivers is a noble idea. This water can be used for irrigation. There are parts of this country that have plenty of land to construct dams, but the Government has not been wise enough to invest in mega dams. In Lagdera Constituency, Modogashe, there is a seasonal river that passes through it. Every rainy season, you cannot imagine the volume of water that passes through that seasonal river. As I speak, a jerrican of water costs Kshs100 in Modogashe. Come October, November and December when we will have the long rains, that seasonal river will flow for close to two weeks. That water ends up in the Indian Ocean. So, sometimes you wonder why the Government does not come up with plans to dam this water, so that it can be used for domestic and irrigation purposes. These are the sad realities that you find on the ground. If you look at Vision 2030, there is a very noble blueprint project that called for construction of a canal from Tana River. Whenever the Seven Folks dams overflow, all the towns downstream in Tana River and Garissa counties get flooded. In Vision 2030, we have that project where we are supposed to construct a canal and irrigate the whole of Garissa County downstream, so that people can do farming and use the water for domestic purposes. We are in 2021, 10 years to 2030, and that still remains on paper. I do not know why we have such noble blueprint projects and yet we do not implement them. Irrigation is the way to go. We can have a secure country in terms of food by ensuring that we make proper use of our water resources. In the ASAL areas, because of climate changes, people are moving away from keeping large herds of cattle, camels, sheep and goats to a sedentary lifestyle. They are settling in villages, but they need to be fed. The only way to feed them is through the use of irrigation to store water, so that they can undertake small-scale farming. The rains are becoming unpredictable. Every time you expect rains, they fail. It is, therefore, high time the Government seriously invested in irrigation scheme projects, construction of dams and make use of the existing water while it is available. There are countries which do not receive rainfall at all, but because there are rivers which pass through them, they optimally use that water to ensure that they feed their populations. These amendments are good. The proposal to change this body to an Authority is good. It will enhance service delivery to the population. The proposal to form irrigation water users associations is also good because people who may wish to undertake small-scale irrigation activities can join together and harness the water sources for that purpose. With those few remarks, I support these very good amendments."
}