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{
    "id": 233424,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/233424/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 279,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Machage",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Health",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 179,
        "legal_name": "Wilfred Gisuka Machage",
        "slug": "wilfred-machage"
    },
    "content": "Indeed, we only note the pathetic situation in this country sometimes in terms of food security, maybe, when we have a chance to participate in mitigation on farming situations in the country. I did have that opportunity while serving in the Office of the President. Two years ago, I was ashamed at one time when I was receiving food from Libya during the drought. When we have so much water and many reclaimed areas, both of swamps and arid and semi-arid, where big rivers flow. This Motion is a process in the right direction that must be emulated by other investors who may wish to invest in our country. Indeed, I would call on many of them to come and help us invest on the reclamation of the arid and semi-arid areas in northern Kenya, where we have fertile land and plenty of water, running into the Indian Ocean in the name of Tana River and others. Indeed, I think this Committee would give a report of assessment and not that of investigation. I am not trying to move an amendment here. I believe the report should encompass a bigger view, including the environmental impact on the establishment of this venture. It should also include the assessment of the disease patterns and prevalence of malaria, schistosomiasis and other diseases that are prevalent in swampy areas. Of course, we need a report that will give us an impact on food availability and affordability, both to the locals and Kenyans at large. It should also tell us how much in terms of infrastructure development the community has actually benefited from these investors. Indeed, the Government gave them a quarter Century, 25 years which is not a very long period. From the little we have seen from this firm, we anticipate very good results from it, which should be emulated by other companies tomorrow. I would also urge the Lake Basin Development Authority to assess other firms. I have an organisation at the Lake Basin in the name of Lichota based at the Migori/Kuria boarder. It has run into total waste due to poor management and the production of dairy animals has gone down. There is need for the Government, through the Ministry, to rehabilitate this important farm for the benefit of the people of the area. We would also be happy if other investors were encouraged to reclaim other lands in Nyanza Province, especially the River Migori Basin and Nateche River Basin in 3852 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 22, 2006 Kuria and many other areas that do not necessarily have rivers but have big swamps similar to the ones we have in Kuria and elsewhere in Nyanza Province. I hope that the report that will be tabled in this House within six months will take into consideration all the facts that I have put forward. We are united on this Motion in this House. I wish we were united in more areas, and not necessarily only on farm development that has been undertaken by the Dominion Farms Limited but also in politics. I am very disheartened that we spend a lot of energy talking a lot of nothing, and thus negating a lot of progress that we have made since Independence in this country in the political arena. Indeed, what we have in mind now is the Constitution review. I call upon both sides of this House to be sobber. All parties involved in the Constitution review, and especially those in the inter-party committee, should be sobber and seek consensus. Let us work together for the development of this country. Thank you. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}