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{
    "id": 1392984,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1392984/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sigor, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Lochakapong",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Combining the strengths of RDAs that are national Government agencies with county governments would ensure that we tackle regional inequalities. It will give them strength to boost economic progress and improve the overall quality of life everywhere in this country. That partnership will help to avoid duplication of projects, ensuring that initiatives align with broader regional plans and promote a unified approach to addressing regional challenges. Moreover, counties and RDAs often possess complementary resources. They combine through various funding, such as those of infrastructure, because RDAs have skilled personnel. Through collaborations, they will be able to achieve much. It is in this spirit that the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) recommended, in paragraph 833(q) of their Report, amendments to RDAs' constituting Acts. Those Acts include the ones we are now proposing to amend to provide representation of county governments in the boards of the authorities. This is to tell you that even issues of RDAs came up during NADCO's engagements. There was a recommendation. I am sure that this House and Kenyans are waiting for the implementation of the NADCO Report. Within that Report, you have heard the mention of RDAs in paragraph 833(q). That is to tell you that even those who participated in that Committee recognised the importance of RDAs. That is why they had it in their Report. Again, RDAs align with the provisions of Article 189 of the Constitution on the need for collaboration. Section 3(2)(j) of this Bill talks about consultation and collaboration between RDAs and county governments. The RDAs remain vital entities in our country's development landscape. Their diverse functions and proven capacity to foster socio-economic growth while effectively managing resources – and we are talking about basin-based resources - play a pivotal role in driving sustainable growth and resource management nationwide. I implore fellow Hon. Members who have dissenting opinions to support this Bill to continue with their mandate of alleviating poverty and improving the development of infrastructure, industries and social services. Therefore, I request those Members to bring their amendments to the Bill during the Committee Stage. That is so that we can improve on it and make it better. The RDAs are credited for the conceptualisation and implementation of the following mega projects in this country: 1. The Masinga and Kiambere Multi-purpose Dams on River Tana, done between 1984 and 1987. 2. The Turkwel Multi-purpose Dam that was built between 1986 and 1991. 3. The Sondu River Multi-purpose Project on River Sondu, under which the Sondu-Miriu Hydropower Project, which was implemented in 1990. 4. The implementation of the Mwache Dam Multi-purpose Development Project is ongoing. In addition, several concepts and feasibility studies on integrated multi-purpose projects by various RDAs are at the resource mobilisation stage. It is worth noting that RDAs have done many feasibility studies. Therefore, they are at a stage of trying to mobilise resources to implement their projections and feasibility studies. Some of the projects where the RDAs have done feasibility studies include the following: 1. The High Grand Falls Multi-purpose Reservoir on River Tana. 2. The Nandi Multi-purpose Reservoir on River Yala. 3. The Magwagwa Multi-purpose Reservoir on River Sondu. 4. The Lower Ewaso Nyiro River Basin Integrated Multi-purpose Dams Project. 5. The Arror River Basin Integrated Multi-purpose Project. 6. The Turkwel Downstream Irrigation Project as part of the Turkwel Dam Multi- purpose Integrated Project The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}