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{
    "id": 1425442,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1425442/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 58,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We have seen some places where dams are like every other evil. The path to any evil place is always paved with good intentions. Those good intentions have been expressed here as massive benefits that the people of Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties are supposed to benefit from. However, the hazards are just as equally important to look at as you look at the benefits. One of the things we have seen is that when these dams burst, many lives are lost and the entire ecosystem of that region is affected; whether it is flora or fauna, or the economic progression. This is an important project that we keep on hearing about, especially the national Government being involved with different corporate organisations in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. However, they do not recognise that there are elected leaders who are also important. I have even seen such in my area where we have Gogo Dam in Uriri Constituency. There is an allocation of Kshs3 billion. Some people are already thinking about getting serious investors and contractors to come and start doing the site. However, there has not been a proper compensation conversation for people occupying that land. There is need to have a conversation because there are ancestral and communal lands. As I conclude, the worst thing is that sometimes we have mega projects being started and people are promised to be compensated, but it becomes a serious prolonged battle between them, contractors on the site, investors and the national Government. A case example is what I gave today in the morning. If you go to Nyatike in Migori County, there is a mega rice project that was started. Up to date, that is six years later, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has not properly compensated farmers there and their land is under use. Paddy rice leaves that particular region and goes to Uganda and Mwea, but those people have never been compensated. This must never happen to the people of Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties. We need to arrest this issue right now as the Senator of Kitui has rightly brought it to the attention of this House. We must force a conversation with the elected leaders of Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I support the statement, I hope it will be given the attention it deserves by this House. I thank you."
}