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{
    "id": 250963,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/250963/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 172,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Munyao",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 279,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Konzolo Munyao",
        "slug": "joseph-munyao"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will try to make a rejoinder. In case an hon. Member does not get properly answered, I will repeat myself. The statement I have tabled here covers many areas, especially in relation to the avian flu scare. I could not read through it because of lack of time. I will circulate it to all the hon. Members and answer some questions out of it. I have not said what I should have said due to lack of time. On the issues raised by hon. Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o, I mentioned that it is a long-term plan of my Ministry to open abattoirs in pastoralist areas. Of course, so many areas have been identified for this purpose. I have been to Lokichogio to lay the foundation stone for an abattoir there. There are also abattoirs coming up in Isiolo, Wajir, Kajiado and Mombasa Districts. Our policy on construction of abattoirs has not been interfered with by drought. Whatever we have planned will be implemented. On the issue of the avian flu, I wish to note that if I had finished reading my statement, then hon. Members would have understood exactly what is in it. I agree that we have birds flying across our country. But I would like to assure the House that my Ministry, especially the Department of Veterinary Services, has established laboratories all over the country. We have got laboratories in the Coast, Western and Nyanza provinces. We also have a bigger laboratory at Kabete in Central Province. We have so far sampled over 400 birds and found that there is no proof of avian flu infection in the country. We have sensitised Kenyans to the dangers of an avian flu outbreak. We have put in the Press our telephone numbers, so that whoever sees any dead bird can report to us. We have opened offices to receive such information. Up to now, I can assure Kenyans that there are no avian flu symptoms in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the question of the opening of the KMC, which hon. Lesrima has raised, I would like to say that we have got adequate livestock for this project. We are going to intensify multiplication of animals. We know what the capacity of the KMC was when it was operational. Hon. Lesrima should know it because he is from a pastoralist area. We were slaughtering 1,000 animals a day. That gives about 30,000 animals a month. I can assure you that we have got the livestock to run the KMC. We are opening abattoirs in areas like North Eastern Province and Isiolo District because we want to have meat factories near the raw material. On the issue of restocking, raised by my former Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture, it has been our concern. The AFC is serious on restocking. We are now dealing with farmers who lost many animals. Above all, we are first assisting those families whose May 2, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 817 livestock was wiped out by drought. We intend to give these families some animals, so that they can start life again. There are some families which cannot live without animals. That is why we are going out of our way to assist families which lost livestock to restock. Out of 22 ASAL districts, this programme will affect 13 districts. Even if we set a target of 500 families per district, we will have done something good. So we want you to support us when ask you to do so. Mr. Speaker, Sir, hon. Ndambuki was interested in knowing the areas identified for restocking."
}