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{
    "id": 1114861,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1114861/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mukurweini, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Anthony Kiai",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13439,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Githiaka Kiai",
        "slug": "anthony-githiaka-kiai"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I am happy about this Sessional Paper No.1 of 2021 on the National Water Policy. This policy is about equitable distribution of water to all citizens of this country. It is about water for irrigation and safe drinking water to all the citizens of this country. It is also about how to conserve water sources and make sure that water is not polluted. It is true. I have been to Ndakaini and can assure you that the several times I have run there, we have not had water, not only to drink, but also to shower. Kenya is a country of extremes. There are places which receive excess rainfall and have excess water and there are other places which have a dearth of water. The reason we need this National Water Policy is to come up with mechanisms on how places that have excess water can benefit those areas that do not have water at all, or make sure that those who live in arid areas also receive water from areas that receive excess rain or have excess water. For a country and any economy for that matter to develop, even historically, those great civilisations put a lot of emphasis on water usage, conservation and how to get water. Water is a natural resource. It is an asset and has always been a bone of contention between many people because of its scarcity. That is happening even now in places where there are people who keep large herds of cattle. There is always human-wildlife conflict, as well as conflict between herders and owners of large tracts of land where they go to graze during famine and drought. If you look at countries like Israel and Egypt, almost 90 per cent of their lands are desert, yet they have become a bread basket for their citizens. In Kenya, if water is used properly, I am sure we will feed and provide water to all our citizens without necessarily having to go through the cycle of famine and water shortages every now and then. There is an issue that we should be talking about. We are fascinated by mega dams all over the country. The key factor should not be the mega dams, but those small water pans that will provide water for irrigation to small families in a number of homesteads. At the end of it all, we 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."
}