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{
    "id": 320818,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/320818/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 280,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(i) Partially treated effluent from sewerage treatment facilities and factories released into water bodies. (ii) Lack of adequate sanitation facilities in beaches and communities living adjacent to water bodies. (iii) Lack of appropriate sewer sanitation facilities in vessels including boats venturing in the lake for transport and fishing. (iv) Inappropriate farming practices and other human activities upstream, resulting in segmentation and nutrient loading of water bodies draining into the lake. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am aware of the negative impact the water hyacinth menace has brought to the communities residing in the Lake Victoria region. These include:- (i) Economic impacts when the weed blocks accessibility and affects transportation and fishing. (ii) General increase in several diseases as the weed creates excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes and other insects. There are increased incidents of diseases such as skin rashes, cough, malaria, bilharzia and gastro-intestinal disorder. (iii) Interferences with water treatment, irrigation and water supply systems. (iv) Hindering the development of aquatic life by de-oxygenating the water which reduces nutrients for the young fish. (v) Interruption of local subsistence farming or fishing and recreational activities by blocking access to the beaches. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my Ministry has instituted a number of water hyacinth management measures which have reduced levels of infestation and distribution substantially. These include:- (i) Completion of a research into the causes of water hyacinth proliferation, its resurgence and the effects of sinking dead weed. (ii) Manual, mechanical and biological control methods. (iii) Establishment of surveillance systems and hot spot areas. (iv) Establishment of 72 weevil rearing centres and training of local communities on how to manage them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, an emergency manual removal of water hyacinth was undertaken in April/May 2011, in response to the directive of the Central Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin during the meeting held on 29th January, 2011. The local committees from the areas adjacent to the targeted beaches were engaged to provide labour, hand carts and boats for hire. A total of 1,800 man-days were engaged in the manual removal during the period and approximately 51 hectares of water hyacinth was removed. A total of Kshs26,008,800 was used to undertake that activity. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have recently developed a regional water hyacinth surveillance management and control system and the action place is also in place. It has been agreed upon both nationally and regionally. These regional efforts to control water hyacinth in Lake Victoria are being implemented through the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP) with funding from bilateral/multilateral donors here in Kenya. Measures that are being undertaken to address the water hyacinth problem in Lake Victoria include:-"
}