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"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
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"legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
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"content": "failed us but also future generations. I agree with my colleague, the Senator for Narok, that we must plan our future cities to accommodate both current and future generations. Successful Governments have been unable to make this unpopular decision to protect the riparian land. I would want to commend the Government that as much as it is a painful thing to do, it is equally more painful and destructive to see people washed away because they have built their shelters along river banks. This is not a preserve of Nairobi County but is repeated in various counties. It is time, as Senators, we come up with laws that will ensure that riparian land across the country is protected and people are not allowed to build, construct, and obstruct waterways. We saw painfully houses, lives, and property being washed down the rivers. It was a sight that was painful, to see people die because we had not made a decision. The political class has made the popular decision to make sure that people continue living on riparian land despite knowing that this is unfortunate. We must not allow this to happen tomorrow or ever again. Therefore, we must develop a legislative and legal framework to protect waterways and riparian land. We should not allow people to build structures because we have to see the consequences. We need political goodwill to ensure that we implement the environmental conservation measures, some of which are painful to our people. Construction along riparian land destroys the ecosystem and endangers people's lives, encouraging erosion and pollution. Waters transferred from the counties of Nairobi, Machakos, Makueni, and Tana River to Kilifi Counties have affected people living in the counties downstream. Our duty as Kenyans is to ensure that our brothers and sisters living downstream enjoy clean water and a clean environment in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This can only be done when we ensure that the riparian lands and waterways are free of contamination and human encroachment, so we do not lose lives. I support the Statement."
}