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{
    "id": 317162,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/317162/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 352,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 170,
        "legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
        "slug": "bonny-khalwale"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is so unfortunate that a country like Kenya which is endowed with a lot of rain and fertile soil in one part of the country, can every year be living from crisis to crisis on the issues of drought management. We must make sure that this particular Bill passes and this Authority is in place, so that besides what is envisaged in this Bill by the hon. Member, the Authority can have the power to manage the water resource that is usually the biggest crisis in these areas and draw experiences from successful countries like Israel and other Middle East countries. We want to see a situation where water can be managed in such a way that when there is usually a sudden avalanche of rain that comes to this place, this water does not go to waste, but is stored so as to be used at a time when such water is not available. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is, indeed, unfortunate and a real demonstration of lack of leadership in this country, that it has required the efforts and energies of a private Member. One would have expected that with the Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands in place, this would have been the priority exercise by the Minister. But be that as it may, I am hoping that the Minister, who unfortunately is not here this morning, will work hand in glove with hon. Chachu, so that this Authority can be founded in law. That a country like Israel, which does not enjoy some of the goodies that mother nature has given us, is self-sufficient in food and can be a net exporter of fruits and fresh produce, should be a wake-up call for Members of Parliament in general, especially those from North Eastern; to push this Government and the next Government to ensure that not a single child and woman should be afflicted with hunger because of drought. It gives me a lot of pain, as I second this Bill, to realize that the people who bear the greatest impact of drought are usually little children, mainly of less than five years. This extends to, especially pregnant women. The challenge is so grave, that having worked in that area as a Doctor of Medicine, I know for a fact that even the fertility rate of the women there is affected because of grave malnutrition and the stress that they go through. You will find that the interval between one birth and another one is so long, because of the challenges that they face. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to second this Bill and urge the whole House that we wholeheartedly support it."
}