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{
"id": 1183913,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1183913/?format=api",
"text_counter": 321,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Okenyuri",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Mover of this Motion, the good Senator for Tharaka Nithi, Gataya Mo Fire. The issue of food security is a very pressing issue currently. The drought we are witnessing has not just affected the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) areas. In areas like Kisii and Nyamira where I come from, the rivers that initially had water are drying up. Women no longer go to the rivers because there is nothing to carry back home. That is how sad it is. Women have to regulate their modes of eating, so that they can leave some food to their children. Young people no longer have anything to support themselves with. Looking at this issue, it tells you that women and young people are the most hit. Looking at the United Nations (UN) projections, young people in Kenya will be the largest populations in the coming 10 years, and this is something that should worry us as representatives of ordinary people in this House. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, secondly, issues of drought and climate change go together. I, therefore, support the Head of State’s call of action of tree planting. Apart from legislating, the House should take the initiative to educate the population on the importance of planting trees. I do not know whether I will be jumping ahead of what is to be brought to this House because I saw a Motion that is yet to be introduced by Sen. M. Kajwang’ on incorporating climate change education in the school curriculum. In reference to that upcoming Motion, I would want to mention that in India, school children are brought up planting trees in school and when they go home, they go with seedlings. This is a culture they have been brought up with. People grow up knowing that it is their responsibility to plant trees and in doing so, you protect the environment, people can breathe clean air, remain healthy and illnesses that relate to climate change issues can be alienated. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thirdly, food security needs to be addressed. The droughts that we are witnessing have even affected our good friends from the Rift Valley - our athletes - due to heat related illnesses. They end up performing poorly and that means that they cannot make a living out of running. The country is losing on that end. We are yet to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No.2 of addressing hunger and making people food secure. This House needs to support initiatives by this Government to fight the issue of drought and support people to become food secure. Lastly, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I see a lot of emphasis being put on drought mitigation measures to ASAL counties. I think it should not just be Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties. As I had mentioned, areas such as Kisii and Nyamira are witnessing drought. Farmers who were growing and producing about 15,000 kilogrammes of coffee beans are now producing only 3,000 kilogrammes. It means that they are producing same amounts at the current cost of inputs. I look forward to the Kenya Kwanza plan that we largely campaigned on before elections. It was to subsidize the cost of production, so that women, especially those in rural areas and young people, are able to support themselves. Finally, this is a good conversation. Apart from just talking about it, we need to legislate, especially in the different counties. For my case, in Kisii, we need to protect"
}