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{
    "id": 1186947,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1186947/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Senate pronounces itself through Motions and Bills, but no action is taken by the Government. It is about time we pronounce ourselves in this Motion and no action taken by our Government. I hope that both sides of the isle will support, approve and pass this Motion. If we do so, the distinguished Senator for Tana River County can follow up with KenGen in case of any unintended consequences such as deaths. If you search on the internet about the Tana River Irrigation Schemes, you will see a lot of flowery, beautiful language in the website, indicating that people are doing very well. That poverty has been reduced. That there is over 1,600 acres of land where corn is grown and almost 2,000 acres of rice farms. However, we are being told by the elected Senator who understands the geography of that county that people are suffering. I do not know whether Tana River Irrigation Scheme is just showing us good things and not telling us the real happenings. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we need water in Nairobi City County. The people of Kitui County also benefits from Tana River, but are also affected. The people of Isiolo, Lamu and Kilifi counties are all affected. Today, if you juxtapose and look at what happens along River Nile and River Tana, then you will not be able to understand why people in Kilifi and Kitui counties suffer from drought. This river is about 100,000 square kilometres and travels about 1,000 kilometres. Why is it not being used effectively? This is a challenge to the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation and the Government. If you want to impact the lives of Kenyans, let us revisit the issue of land use policy. Let us ask our population whether it is possible to reserve most of the land and move closer to the river and then think of other unintended consequences like pollution and how we are going to manage these matters. We can learn from other countries that have been able to use that resource. I have heard my colleagues talk about the Nile Treaty of 1959 that is benefiting Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and Uganda. I would say part of the source of the River Nile is the Mau Forest. When pronouncing ourselves we need to think about how to proceed. I have one problem because I have seen that my brother here is seeking the following: He says “Now therefore; the Senate urges the Ministry of Water Sanitation and Irrigation with conjunction with the Water Resource Authority (WRA) to: - 1. Conduct stakeholders’ participation before undertaking any major upstream activities including construction of dams before the release of water during rainy season and limiting flow of water to river Tana during the dry season.” I have a problem with that because the distinguished Senator came to that conclusion, he has already told us the problem is KenGen releasing water from the Seven Forks Dams. The first thing we should do is to invite KenGen here in order to understand why they do so. Have they thought of the unintended consequences? Secondly, we should develop a policy in line with the Nile Treaty of 1959 to guarantee average annual flow of river Tana."
}