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{
    "id": 122816,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/122816/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 297,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "November 17, 2009 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3827 Mr. Bahari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to join my colleagues in supporting this Bill. I want to also to congratulate the Minister, particularly on his directive on vehicles to be used by Ministers and other Government officials. You know these are very difficult times. If this will help in reducing costs and transferring that money to development projects, that was a good idea. I also want to congratulate the Ministers who have co-operated on this directive and ask those who have not to do so without wasting more time and ensure that this becomes a success. I want to come to the issue of the management of drought. A lot has been said about El Nino rains. In parts of this country, in fact, northern Kenya, particularly up to now, we have not even had sufficient rains. The talk about El Nino as we speak is not there. Indeed, we are still doing water tankering. The Ministry did not do well in planning the management of drought this particular time during the budget. I think they did not do a good job. The Ministry needs to focus properly and ensure that in the event that El Nino rains do not come as it has been projected, then the Ministry should not be telling us that they did not know. I want them to know now that there is a possibility of rains failure in parts of this country and continued drought with all these consequences. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, perhaps, the effect of drought has not been properly pronounced. This Ministry, in conjunction with other relevant Ministries, needs to carry out a quick survey of the effects of drought in most parts of the pastoralist communities. Indeed, it is disastrous. Many people have now been reduced to abject poverty. They have nothing that they can resort to. The Government has not made any plans for them. Even if it had rained, it would not have impact on the lives of the majority of our population in northern Kenya. It is not a small matter. About 60 per cent of the people in my constituency have been reduced to beggars. It is a very serious matter. They have lost their cows, sheep, goats and other livestock. It is a pity that nobody is doing anything about it. I thank the Government for providing food, although it is not enough. That food is completely insufficient. I know the World Food Programme (WFP) has been appealing globally for more support. However, we need to do something about our own resources to ensure that no Kenyan dies out of starvation. I am happy the Chair comes from the area which is affected by this drought and I am sure he can confirm that this is what the situation is."
}