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"id": 207974,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/207974/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Gachagua",
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"speaker": {
"id": 228,
"legal_name": "James Nderitu Gachagua",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to join my colleagues in commending the Ministry for a job very well-done. The reforms that are in place are beginning to bear fruits. But, perhaps, my only plea is to request the Ministry to ensure that these reforms are speedily implemented. For instance, it is now a requirement that all water that is in various sectors must be piped. No water should be flowing in farrows. About a month ago, there was an incident in my constituency where an epidemic affected over 500 students because the water that they were using comes through a farrow. It is my plea to this Ministry to move with speed and ensure that such issues are handled urgently. 3320 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 21, 2007 Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have had various discussions with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, as Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources Department. We have impressed upon the Ministry about the need to increase the budgetary allocation to this particular sector. A lot of money is being used on relief food. It would bear much more fruits if this money was used to fund irrigation projects. We have repeated year in, year out, about the need to increase this budgetary allocation, but I think enough has not been done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the area of harmonization between the various water boards and Ministry of Water and Irrigation personnel in the districts is not moving very well. There seems to be a bit of reluctance by the Ministry's personnel to hand over to the various boards in the districts. This is sort of not ensuring that work is done fast enough. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is need, again, for the Ministry to re-look at the tariffs and, perhaps, direct the various water boards and providers on the tariffs applicable to various institutions. A case in point are the primary schools. The primary schools get very little money under the Free Primary Education Programme. Therefore, most schools are not able to pay for water services. This has led to a situation where most schools have actually closed. I think there is need to re-look at that issue, because a lot of water service providers and boards are actually being funded by the same Exchequer that is funding that Free Primary Education. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is need for the Ministry to liaise closely with the water boards to accelerate compensation for the various tanks that have been constructed by self- help groups across the country. This is because as it is, there is reluctance for self-help water groups to dovetail into the area of jurisdiction of the various water providers because of the inadequacy of the service providers to compensate these self-help schemes. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, finally, I want to comment on the reforms, as they affect the Water Trust Fund. The idea of having a Water Trust Fund so that it acts a basket for all donors and anyone who may want to help this country in terms of water is a good idea. But I note with concern that for the last one or two years, I do not think that we have had any money coming from the Water Trust Fund towards the various self-help schemes. This is an area of concern. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I want to commend the Ministry for a job very well done."
}