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{
    "id": 1490826,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1490826/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 141,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "We have a big problem in Nairobi City County, for example. The water from Nairobi City County comes from Murang’a County, or maybe the next county, yet there are counties that do not have water. So, the water comes here. We need to start asking ourselves, how do we ensure that there is sufficient water that can sustain the residents of Nairobi City County? It is by investing in big water reservoirs. This is the responsibility of the national government. If the national Government can just take the third or fourth schedule, and look at what their role is, and they put resources there, we can make a lot of difference. Mr. Speaker Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me reiterate on the importance of each of the 47 counties - establishing their own water companies, and they run them as a resource. They realign their own existing resources. A lot of water is washed away. Some of us who are farmers tap this water. If you go along most of the riverbanks, you will see people using the water, which eventually will drain into the lake, and using it for irrigation. We can as well encourage county governments to establish water reservoirs, where they can tap into this water. Once we realign our small existing resources, we can ensure that it supports our population. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me reiterate on the importance of legislation. When we draft legislations, or legislations are proposed in this House, we have to be cognizant of the fact that our Constitution has devolved certain functions. Water and sanitation are fully devolved. These original water bodies should be working with the national government to develop policies, but not to start running the distribution of water in the county governments. During the time when we were interrogating these water companies, we spent a lot of our time talking to the regional bodies. There was a huge conflict between Kajiado and Makueni Counties, coming all the way to Athi River, when it comes to the issue of Nolturesh, which is the water source. That water, historically, was piped from Nolturesh, which is down Kajiado South, to water flower farms in Kitengala. So, the residents of that area, Makueni County, were not getting any water. The residents of Kajiado were not getting any water. Therefore, it is important that we look at our own resources, so that before we send out water to serve other people, we make sure that we serve ourselves first. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you and I travel, the first thing we will be told on an airplane is that you need to buckle up first. Even if you have a child, protect yourself first before you protect that child. So, we need to take this logic when it comes to the issue of running our own resources. There is no reason as to why residents of Kajiado County should stay without water, because that water is going into support people Athi River. There is absolutely no reason why the people of Makueni should not benefit from the Mzima Springs, because all that water is going downstream to support Mombasa County. We can share these resources. We should not give out all the resources. The Bible says that the poor man is the one who gives out all his wealth and is left begging. I am not a preacher, but I remember that. This applies clearly on how we run our resources. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to conclude by stating the following- One, each one of us here must now start taking our job seriously when it comes to managing our resources. If you take some time and read the Auditor-General’s Report, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}