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{
"id": 206371,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/206371/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. J.M. Mutiso",
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"speaker": {
"id": 273,
"legal_name": "John Mutinda Mutiso",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) have been managed through very amorphous and ad hoc instruments by the Government. The Ministry of State for Special Programmes is designated from time-to-time to run affairs of ASALs. The Government actually addresses issues when it is convenient for that Ministry to tackle issues pertaining to a particular disaster or issue which has a national outcry or importance. We also have the Ministry of Regional Development Authorities which again fails in the management of affairs of ASALs. The Ministry of Regional Development Authorities, again, is the principal Ministry which manages the affairs of the regional developments in the area, particularly the ASALs. We have the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) which actually covers a wider part of the ASALs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, it is quite in order to have such a legislation brought to this House in order to mainstream the running of affairs and economic productivity and stimulation of ASALs in this country. Therefore, I would like to support this Motion because it targets a very important area which has been marginalised for a very long time. Indeed, the ASALs also comprise a larger number of our communities who have also been marginalised in the democratic management of affairs of this country. If you look at the North Eastern Province, the upper region of Eastern Province and also some parts of the southern part of Eastern Province, you will find that these are some of the areas in which we find that we have enormous economic potential. For example, in the southern region of Eastern Province we have enormous potential of coal deposits, particularly in Kitui and Mwingi areas. In fact, this has been certified to be an area where we can be able to get enormous coal resources which are of economic value. Whenever we raise this issue, we are told that the tenders are just about to opened for it to be exploited. With a Bill or an Act of Parliament, it will actually set up the framework of trying to address investment in these areas which have been marginalised or have been left out in the planning of this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the livestock sector is a very important one in this economy. I am happy to report that the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development has been trying to revive the livestock industry in this country. It will be remembered that in the 1980s and 1990s, this country was a powerhouse in the production of meat exports, particularly to the European Union August 29, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3529 (EU) and also some parts of the Middle East. Indeed, this trade was lost to countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Therefore, in bringing the ASALs into the mainstream planning in form of a direct policy statement such as an Act of Parliament, we will be able to bring in over 200 million livestock which is actually right now managed by a Ministry, but which is not directly managing the affairs of ASALs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, again, if you look at the appropriate linkages of other ministries to the ASALs, you will find that it is not only their potential in livestock production that matters. We also have other areas like agriculture, water, education and so on. We do not have a direct linkage of trying to bring these other departments to manage the affairs of ASALs as such. Therefore, establishing a Bill or an Act of Parliament will enable the Government to have a clear policy linkage of other important departments such as agriculture and roads, to be able to revive and tap the potential in ASALs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding my previous contribution, I do again say that if we address the issue of ASALs, we will be trying to democratise the management of the economic affairs of these areas which have been marginalised for a very long time. With those few remarks, I support the creation of ASALs development in the form of a Bill. I beg to second."
}