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{
    "id": 212022,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/212022/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Munyes",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Special Programmes",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 187,
        "legal_name": "John Kiyonga Munyes",
        "slug": "john-munyes"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, following the request in the House by hon. Ahenda that my Ministry gives a Ministerial Statement on the earth tremors that hit Nairobi and the country at large from 12th to 18th July, 2007, I would like to state as follows:- From 12th to 18th July, 2007, this country experienced a series of tremors, which were strongly felt in Nairobi causing panic amongst city residents thus calling for the assessment of disaster preparedness in the event the tremors escalated into an earthquake. The tremors had their epicentre in the region around Lake Natron, more so, at Mt. Ol Donyo Lengai in Tanzania where the hypocentre was at 10 kilometres below the surface at the epicentre. The tremors measured between 4.3 and 6.1 on the Richter Scale. The highest tremor was July 25, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 19 experienced on 17th July, 2007, when it measured 6.1 on the Richter Scale The Minister of State for Special Programmes has the mandate to co-ordinate disaster-risk reduction and disaster emergency response. During the period of the earth tremors, the Ministry activated the disaster emergency response to a state of preparedness. The teams that were raised at that time were the Kenya Meteorological Department, the Kenya Police, the Military Disaster Response Unit, Ministry of Health, the Administration Police (AP), the Nairobi City Engineer, the National Youth Service (NYS), the National Disaster Operation Centre, the Nairobi Provincial Office, the Kenya Red Cross, the Chief Fire Officer, Nairobi City, and St. John's Ambulance. The Ministry called and held emergency meetings with these teams to assess the emergency response capacity and the scene of incidence organisation. The teams mentioned are still on alert and will meet in two week's time to reassess the position despite the fact that the tremors have subsided. With regard to the Early Warning Systems (EWSs), I would like to inform hon. Members that this country has EWSs in place and which are used in case of drought, floods and other disasters, including fire. It is important for hon. Members to know that an earthquake is a sudden onset disaster and may not give ample time for appropriate measures to be taken. However, this country is putting in place a national seismological network to cover the whole country in order to monitor and register seismological and other related activities, including volcanicity and landslides. The recent tremors were as a result of volcanic activity. I would further like to assure this House that this country is prepared to deal with any disaster, including earthquakes to the best of its ability and capacity."
}