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{
    "id": 1473321,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1473321/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 412,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Let us rethink how we want to deal with disaster issues at the county level to the extent that, we will be happy to see counties being self-reliant, self-sufficient and with incredible capacity to deal with any kind of fast natural disaster that they experience. The truth is, when these natural disasters happen, in most cases, they do not happen in an equation where they affect the entire nation. For instance, when you look at the issue of floods; yes, it was a national conversation, but the impact was felt in very specific counties. I have counted a number of counties that experienced these floods to unimaginable levels. For example, Tana River, Migori, Nairobi and Busia experienced incredible floods, but that was not experienced in other counties such as Vihiga and Kakamega counties. If you put an omnibus institution that then wants to deal with disaster at that national level, what then happens to immediate and sustainable response to those disasters when they occur in those particular communities? Madam Temporary Speaker, this is one area that should embrace the spirit of devolution. When there are resources and strategies to operationalise preparedness, response and recovery mechanisms in terms of disaster, it is something that must be absolutely decentralised and devolved to the grassroots levels. Therefore, I appreciate the spirit of this Bill and the attempt to put in place a way of responding to disasters. However, functionally, this Bill should not see the light of day because it is just going to create more jobs that are going to cost taxpayers money and centralise a critical agency that is supposed to be devolved. More importantly, it is going to form a canopy against a number of cluster organisations that deal with specific areas of disaster response such as drought, fire, terrorism and others that need to have independent agencies that can deal with them. I appreciate the fact that it is in the Senate, but I urge the Members of the Senate to rethink such Bills that perhaps, are going to centralise very important functions. Therefore, with a lot of humility, respect and appreciation of the work that has gone into this Bill, I do not support this Bill. I thank you."
}