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"id": 245741,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/245741/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Shaaban",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Local Government",
"speaker": {
"id": 262,
"legal_name": "Isaack Shaban",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to support this Motion. One of the most important items in the Budget is the introduction of the Contingency Fund. In order to mitigate times of drought and other calamities, it is important to have a Contingency Fund so that we do not scavenge around. This country is prone to drought. Sometime back, there used to be drought after every five years. Now, the drought cycle is increasing every other day. It is, therefore, very important that the Minister thought it fit to have the Contingency Fund so that we can use it in times of great need. However, the amount of money set aside for this Fund is little and may not cover the various calamities like drought and floods. I would have expected the Minister to set aside about Kshs5 billion so that it can cover such eventualities instead of re-allocation of money from various ministries meant for other important services. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also commend the Minister's introduction of Youth Development Fund. We know that about 71 per cent of Kenyans are 35 years and below. It is important that we develop our youth who for long have felt that they have been marginalised. It is my wish that these funds are properly utilised so that our youth can benefit. This is because unemployment in this country is very high since we have not been able to absorb most of our youth both in the formal and informal sectors of our economy. So, I hope that when these funds go to the district level, they will be properly utilised. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, water is a very useful component of life. Where there is no water, there is no life. It is said that \"Water is life\". Many Kenyans are still beyond the reach of water that is portable, wholesome and fit for human consumption. Even where there is piped water, it is not clean. The goal of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation has, for a long time, been for every Kenyan to have clean portable water. That goal has never been realized even after many years. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, since water is life and a very important commodity, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation should enhance the development of water resource so that it is available to every Kenyan in this country. The allocation of Kshs1.5 billion for the drilling of boreholes and dams is worth mentioning although it is not yet adequate. There is a very big need for water in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). There is need for the provision of water to both human beings and livestock in the ASAL areas. Many of our towns and market centres still do not have clean and 1718 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 28, 2006 adequate water. For example, Mandera District Headquarters, which I represent, is yet to provide clean water to the more than 100,000 residents of Mandera Town 40 years after Independence. It is interesting to note that there is a perennial river which passes near the town on the border of Kenya and Ethiopia and pours its waters to the Indian Ocean. It is unfortunate that 40 years after Independence, the residents of Mandera cannot access clean water. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation should take it upon themselves very seriously to ensure that the residents of Mandera, who actually have a river flowing near them, have clean water. There are a lot of donkey carts moving around the town looking for water. Year in, year out, the residents of Mandera Town, which is the district headquarters, have been promised that they will have clean water. We have not been able to see water running in our taps. I appeal to the Ministry to do everything possible to construct and develop a water supply system so that the residents can have clean water like the rest of the country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the residents of Mandera do not only lack clean water. They also lack a sewerage system. That is a major town with a population of more than 100,000 people. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation, whose mandate and core business also include the provision of sewerage systems, should assist the residents of Mandera Town to get a sewerage system as quickly as possible. I would also like to assure this House that the Ministry of Local Government will do everything possible to ensure that we provide the necessary services to the people of Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this year, the Government has set aside Kshs7 billion for local authorities countrywide. I would like to assure Kenyans that this money will be utilised as per the Act that created the Local Authorities Transfer Fund. In order to ensure that this money is properly utilised, the Ministry of Local Government will come up with regulations to ensure that, at least, 50 per cent of the Local Authorities Transfer Fund goes to infrastructural development of the road, health, and water sectors. In other words, we want the money to be used on capital projects, so that we can have viable projects that will enable local authorities to serve the people better. Therefore, we want the people to support local authorities, particularly Nairobi City Council, which is now doing a commendable job. As you are aware, Nairobi is now cleaner. The Nairobi City Council is now providing better services. We have already achieved, particularly in the Central Business District---"
}