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{
    "id": 1186945,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1186945/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion on Effects of Upstream Activities on the River Tana to the residents of Tana Delta by the distinguished Senator from Tana River County. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the residents of Nairobi City County receive 80 per cent of their water from River Tana. In this country, 70 per cent of our hydropower comes from River Tana. I have noted keenly the issues that the distinguished Senator wants addressed. It begs a very big question as to whether KenGen has ever thought of unintended consequences by releasing water. That is the problem. I have read this Motion keenly. I beg that we limit our arguments to the effects of releasing water and the unintended consequences. The distinguished Senator said that KenGen releases water from the Seven Folks Dam. It is the same dam that provides this country with almost 70 per cent of hydropower. It then begs the question: Why and what can we do to ensure that we benefit from both the electricity from hydropower and that the communities downstream do not suffer? I do not believe that when KenGen releases this water, they intend to destroy the livelihoods of these communities. However, as it has been now elaborated and clearly stated, these communities are languishing in poverty. The other big problem that the distinguished Senator did not indicate in this Motion is the canal diversion as a result of agricultural activities downstream. There are so many activities right from the Aberdare Range, the source of Tana River as you move downstream. We have agricultural activities, canals, water going to Nairobi City County and everywhere. What can we do as a country? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I went to Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt. You cannot compare. I could see that 100 per cent of the population in Egypt lives along the River Nile. It would be excellent if we could think about the concept of maximizing on the benefits of this water. Ultimately, all of it drains into the Indian Ocean. We should move our entire population to live along that River. I am glad that the distinguished Senator brought this matter here. One of the biggest problems in this country is land use policy. It is something that is not highly thought of. Another problem is our growing population which my brother should have alluded to. That is why people are affected downstream. We have a huge population downstream. When KenGen releases water, it goes down to people who are not even close to the river. Every year when it floods in this country, we see people killing hippopotamus. Sometimes hippopotamus kill human beings, along Tana River."
}