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{
    "id": 159177,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/159177/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 32,
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    "content": "accommodated by relatives, friends and well wishers. This was the worst humanitarian crisis since Independence. However, we have made steady progress in the resettlement of over 90 per cent of those who were in IDP camps. We have also rebuilt 19 burnt schools, constructed 36 new police stations and 108 administration police posts. These resettlement programmes will need to be accelerated with a view to ensuring that all genuine IDPs are resettled. The other challenge our country faced last year was the national food crisis. This was occasioned by the prolonged rain failure and the high cost of agricultural inputs resulting in reduced production. The crisis was further aggravated by the displacement of farmers and the depletion of our strategic grain reserves. The crisis made it necessary for the Government to allocate Kshs8.5 billion for the importation of maize. These funds will be allocated through a Supplementary Budget of which I seek your support. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is now clear that the effect of climatic change may be here to stay and we must act responsibly to mitigate any weather-related challenges in the future. In this regard, my Government is now according priority to irrigated food production in order to assure the country of food security. Some of the efforts in this direction include the six new dams to be constructed. These are the Badasa Dam in Marsabit for water supply and irrigation; the Chemusu Multi- purpose Dam in Baringo, the Uma Dam in Kitui District; the Kiserian Dam for water supply; the River Nzoia Dam for irrigating Bunyala and Budalangi and the Upper Ewaso Nyiro Dam for irrigation and water supply for Ewaso Nyiro Basin. In addition, eight irrigation schemes are being rebuilt in including Bura, Hola, Ahero, Wei Wei in Sigor, West Pokot and Kimira Oluoch in Rachuonyo and Homa Bay. With regard to agricultural inputs, the Government has embarked on a progamme to ensure lower prices for fertilizers and seeds in support of our farmers’ efforts to increase food production. Mr. Speaker, Sir, besides the food crisis, the country experienced a serious energy crisis with rocketing energy prices reaching unprecedented levels. The food and energy crisis were later followed by the global financial crisis that gave rise to the ongoing global economic crisis. The real effect of the global financial crisis has started to be felt in our economy, especially amongst sectors that are dependent on international demand. The multiple adversities that Kenya has experienced since January, 2008 have, once again, exposed both our weaknesses and our strengths. I want to assure Kenyans that the Government is instituting a number of measures aimed at easing the effects of the global financial crisis on ordinary Kenyans and the entire economy. In this connection, the Government is according higher priority to infrastructure development. In the energy sector, we are focusing especially on geothermal and coal power generation. In the transport sector, the Government is focusing on modernization of our roads network and a second sea port at Lamu, as well as the development of the railway and road links to Ethiopia and Sudan through Isiolo. Further, we are together with Uganda, working on a new standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Uganda with a view to extending it to the great lakes countries. As can be seen, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am confident that the Grand Coalition Government is making good progress in managing the challenges facing our nation. The Government has the necessary capacity to lead Kenyans out of the current situation. We have the political will and socio-economic direction as articulated in Vision 2030."
}