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{
    "id": 142428,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/142428/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 406,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Abdirahman",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 161,
        "legal_name": "Abdirahman Ali Hassan",
        "slug": "abdirahman-ali-hassan"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Mr. Chachu for having brought this Motion to the House which I can only describe as very timely, relevant and ideal for us to be able to deal with the problems of drought and under-development in northern Kenya. For a long time, we have complained in this country that policy makers and planners have not been able to address our problems as expected. That is why in less than 10 years after Independence, people in northern Kenya were put on food aid which they still receive today. About 40 years down the road, we are still asking for alternative options besides food aid and no Government, including the current one, has been able to address our problems. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when some people hear about drought, they just view it as a common occurrence. It is not a common occurrence because those who feel it, will always want it addressed and will speak about it very passionately. Drought cycles have now become shorter. We are virtually in drought every given year. In the past, it was 10 years, 15 years, but now it is virtually on annual basis for those who live in northern Kenya. We know drought affects the whole country and responses have not been forthcoming. Just to give you an example, His Excellency the President declared famine a national disaster on 16th January, 2009. Six months down the road, if you go back to the regions where we come from, you will still find that there are no responses in terms of mitigation, particularly on water and food. It is a pity! It is because of the isolated responses from line Ministries. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have now the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands and the Ministry of Special Programmes which are both co-ordinating drought and emergency issues. What is the output? Virtually nothing. We would want these centralized. That is why I am saying that the Drought Management Authority proposed by Mr. Chachu is very ideal. We would really want it done as quickly as possible because the Drought Management Authority will be autonomous in the sense that it will not be able to get these problems of financial deadlines. As at 30th June, we were told that all accounts had been closed. I think it will be more autonomous in terms of meeting its own targets. As other speakers before me have said, northern Kenya is not a place where you cannot grow things. In the place where I come from, the Uaso Nyiro Development Authority is not doing anything meaningful. River Uaso Nyiro goes through my constituency, although we do not see any water now."
}