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{
    "id": 137933,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/137933/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 381,
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, now specifically to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, there seems, to me, to be so many agencies handling water issues. This confuses us a lot. We have the Water Trust Fund, the regional water services boards and many other water bodies. You really do not know who is dealing with what, whom do you approach and whether they have technical staff, competent enough to deliver. Let me give an example. Lake Victoria Water Services Board, I am told had only four engineers when I visited it last. Now, I am told that one of the engineers has been transferred to Nairobi. I wonder how the three water engineers will be able to cope with the region that is covered by this water board. Of the three engineers, one of them is the CEO. I am also concerned about the slow pace of implementation of the water projects in the country and more particularly, in my constituency. The Italian Government had accepted to undertake a project which was to cost Kshs43 million in the last financial year. At the same time, they also promised to finance a youth polytechnic. They did the youth polytechnic but for the water department, they are still tendering. I do not know when the tendering procedure will end. This year, I can see that budget has increased to Kshs53 million. I do not want to see figures in the budget. I want to see water! I want to see the Sindo Water Project working. That is what I want to see, as an hon. Member. When I see this, I talk to the community and tell them that the Italian Government is giving us money and my five years is ending without that water being seen. Then what are you telling your constituents? You are telling them that you are not saying the truth. So, I would want to see how this is handled. Let me move a little faster and cover two areas. First, is with regard to the District Water Officers (DWOs) who the chair of the relevant Departmental Committee talked about. I am one of those people who really are against the DWOs being there because they are not doing any job. Even when you want to undertake any Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) project, if you go to them, you have to pay them and they are just going to the same locality; the same district. They are supposed to carry out an evaluation to tell you how much it costs to put up a water project; you have to pay them allowances. The question is: These people have very limited work. If you look at the budget, it is about Kshs7 million. I am sure with Kshs7 million, they do very little in the district. When we want to engage these officers as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee because we have some funds, we have to pay them allowances. Why is the Government paying these officers salaries? With regard to technical capacity, these people are not even water engineers!"
}