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{
    "id": 373485,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/373485/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 388,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "flows almost 24/7 to the Indian Ocean and traverses six constituencies across the lower streams of the Tana River. Most times, the river is utilized for irrigation and there is a lot of food production. It is used for livestock watering, fishing and many other livelihoods. However, whenever it rains and the dams like Masinga and Karuma get filled, KenGen and TARDA release large volumes of water without appropriate warning and planning. As a result, many farms are swept away and properties destroyed. Many gullies are formed and most farmlands are turned to unproductive areas because of high siltation. While we struggle hard to produce enough food for this country, whenever KenGen drains water into this river, a lot of food is destroyed and most people especially in the lower stream become marooned in a lot of water. Their farms are turned into non cultivatable areas. Big gullies are formed and as a result, the people are fed with famine relief food, which is very unfortunate. The KenGen and TARDA never give appropriate warning and the people are never compensated. Last year, we had a case where the KenGen station in Garissa was releasing oil into the rivers. When they changed oil, they drained it into Tana River. This has destroyed many farms and many farmers cannot cultivate their lands. The oil gets into the water and destroys even the fish and any other organisms that live in the waters of Tana River. This is impunity of the highest order. These are Government statutory bodies and they need to take care of other people’s welfare. Many farmers depend on this river. Another thing is that at the lower stream of Tana River, there are many pastoralists who water their animals from this river. At most times, the Government spends a lot of money to do water tracking. If they feel that the water is going to destroy the dams, we can have an alternative ocean for this water. We can have other dams. We can even divert the same water to the dry areas where we can use it for irrigation and watering the animals instead of just destroying the well established farms and properties. It is high time this House took interest in the people living downstream of Tana River. I beg to second the Motion."
}