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{
    "id": 142393,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/142393/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 371,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, 80 per cent of this country’s land mass is under ASAL. That is where we have about 75 per cent of the livestock population, mainly the beef and livestock. Under this 80 per cent land mass which is ASAL in this country, 45 years down the line, we still have poor livestock infrastructure, poor water resource management, no roads and it is the most backward region in this country. In the last 15 years, hardly have we had three years without a recurrence of drought. This is a country that 45 years down the line, 80 per cent of the people are under constant attack from drought, but the Government never tries to mitigate against subsequent recurrent droughts. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we speak here today in this country, the people of northern Kenya have lost their livelihood. For example in North Horr, where the hon. Member for that constituency is the Mover of this Motion, close to 30,000 head of cattle have died in the last six months. As we speak here today, the livestock and the people of the 28 districts are going through a very trying moment. We are putting a lot of our time and energy in political issues. People are discussing issues to do with the Hague, post-election violence and the local tribunal. Even in special Cabinet sessions, they discuss post-election violence whereas we have never had a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the suffering and the loss of life in northern Kenya. It is very sad that the top socio-economic and political agenda of this country is not about the lives of the people of northern Kenya who are suffering under this drought. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, drought can be predicted. We have a regional body that predicts droughts. We have national bodies which predict drought. The Arid Lands Resource Management Project does quarterly periodical surveys on the impending drought and food security. We have the international body called Fusenet funded by USAID that predicts drought. As we sit here today, Fusenet has already predicted the recurrence of three months drought period starting today and then the outbreak of El Nino and Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in December. This is a country that nobody has put measures in place to fight El Nino and RVF."
}