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"id": 239713,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/239713/?format=api",
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"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"
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"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was just responding to what some hon. Members said previously about the railway network because that also contributes to the problem because we need a proper transport system to ensure the food is quickly sent to these areas. In the area he is talking about, the problem has to do 2534 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 2, 2006 with logistics in terms of the transportation costs and I think that has been a big challenge for this Government. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of subsidising farmers during natural calamities has also been raised and I think it is something the Government must look at. We need to support the farmers so that we can have enough food. We have ensured that our strategic food reserves are well stocked in all parts of the country. Our cereal boards currently have enough stocks and I think we have enough food to last until September. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me come back to what my Ministry is doing to mitigate the famine. As I said, this Motion is good and we all need to support it. However, currently, the Ministry, through the ASAL Programme which is utilising a credit facility from the World Bank, is trying at least to manage some of the problems in these areas through a number of projects that we have started in those areas. As I said, this Ministry is existing in the form of projects but I think a legal framework is what we require as most hon. Members said. The first phase was initiated in 1996 and its objective was to institutionalise drought management in the Government of Kenya and it ended in June, 2003. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the second phase of the ASAL Programme commenced on 8th September, 2003 and will run for six years which will be built on the success of the first phase. The original objectives of the projects which will enhance food security and reduce drought in marginalised districts, in 21 districts, with the initiation of the ASAL Programme, focuses on enhanced food security. What has been achieved to date is that, at least, the project has drawn some lines on drought preparedness activities where rehabilitation and building of 600 water supplies has taken place; shallow wells have been sunk, construction of dams, protection of springs, purchase of tools and equipment for water supplies have been done in some of these areas. Agricultural activities supporting 55 irrigation schemes are going on through tree planting, soil conservation, establishment of good roads, procurement of animal AI equipment. Drought contingency interventions, rehabilitation of provisional spares to the boreholes with the assistance of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation is also going on because in the last drought we did a lot on that. There is also human vaccination, emergency livestock vaccination, water tracking and sinking of boreholes. On community-driven development, there is restocking of 18,000 goats and donkeys, purchase of ox ploughs, construction of classrooms which are about 400, support for local development investors, construction of tanks, provision of assorted office equipment, children immunisation and emergency livestock auction where 37,000 animals were actually bought from the farmers and sent to other places to be sold and the money was ploughed back to the farmers. There was also improved pest disease control and soil fertility management. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on ongoing drought management project activities, I said earlier that this programme will be funded for the second time and we are expecting huge sums of money from donors but I think this Government has put about Kshs1 billion into these activities. I hope, through the number of activities and suggestions we are getting from hon. Members, we will try to improve on this programme. However, I want us to go back to the policy. It is not only the famine issues which we must address. We want a situation where we actually embark also on the ASAL policy. The issues that have been raised here today are not really special programmes. Some of that mandate resides with the Ministry of Agriculture; that is irrigation technology and livestock production. However, for the interest of the ASAL policy, I think I need to brief this House and that is what I am trying to do. I need to table the ASAL policy, debate it and get the way forward for these ASAL areas. When we talk of dam construction, irrigation technology and opening up these areas, the infrastructure should be excellent. We have enough food in Western and Nyanza provinces but we cannot move it to northern districts because of the poor road network. That becomes another issue and all those August 2, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2535 issues can be brought out in the ASAL policy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, a disaster policy will also \"marry\" this policy that is going to come and issues of famine and floods. At least, this year, we did not experience massive floods and this country must get the policy that embraces all that. When floods affect this country, the water that accompanies them goes to waste. We must trap this water by constructing big dams in Western Province, the coastal region and in North Eastern Province. This year we tried a lot in the short-term in providing food to these areas and ensuring that they were non-food items for those who get sick like mosquito nets and cooking utensils but that is not enough because next year other floods will occur, affecting those areas. So, we need to get a strategy which can be brought together in this policy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have been providing food to North Eastern Province and other parts of this country through the Kenya Food Security Steering Group. The previous regime used to get a lot of food from donors and that is why donors pushed us to give them an institution which I cannot say is perfect. The Kenya Food Security Steering Group manages food through the World Food Programme (WFP).When I speak to my officers they talk good about this institution. I also get a lot of reactions from hon. Members that this institution that is controlled by the World Food Programme does not ensure that the food reaches the districts. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let us pass this Motion today so that we can have another institution to replace what was started because of donors who were bringing in food at that time. I will not support this institution because, currently, the food that is being distributed in this country is funded by the taxpayers money. We must task this Government. The Kenya Food Security Steering Group are donors and the donors have not brought their food. This month we are getting some food from the World Food Programme. The World Food Programme might give us 30,000 metric tonnes. I need 34,000 metric tonnes to feed Kenyans every month. That is not even enough for one month. An hon. Member said that the Saudis are giving us some rice. That is only 200,000 bags. It is not even enough for one month's distribution. We want to thank them for that but this Government must vote enough resources. I am pushing the Government to do that. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}