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{
    "id": 373753,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/373753/?format=api",
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    "content": "Hon. Speaker, this country has got very weak systems for water harvesting and management yet we complain year in, year out that droughts are our problem. Droughts are not our problem. Our problem is the weak strategies that we employ. Sometimes I tend to think that it is the donor-funded projects that intentionally leave out some components that must go together with the projects. I would like to give an example. When the Thika Superhighway was being constructed, massive loads of sand were extracted from the riverbeds to facilitate the project but no compensation strategy was put in place. In a few years’ time, some of those rivers will dry up. While we were doing a good job of creating superhighways, we were not looking at the impact of those particular projects on the other resources that were being used to facilitate the projects. Therefore, on the particular matter of Tana Delta, the issue of compensation is not negotiable. People have suffered. Some people have died and we have just kept on talking about it. What we need to do now, as a House, is to ensure that compensation goes to the affected people as soon as possible. The second thing we need to look at, which is quite important, is to ensure that other projects of similar magnitude and potential danger are re-assessed and measures put in place, so that we do not always become reactive. It is about time we became proactive in terms of prevention of man- made calamities. We can look ahead. We have sufficient engineers. We have qualified personnel. We have all that it takes to make our projects beneficial, profitable and sustainable to all of us, so that they can deliver the results that we desire. Hon. Speaker, I am surprised that sometimes we discuss good Motions like this one, which are never implemented. The reason as to why such Motions are not implemented is that sometimes we are not sure where to begin from. I would urge that the Committee responsible for energy takes up this matter immediately. As soon as communication goes to the right people, the Committee on Implementation can follow suit because this is a Motion we cannot just talk about. We have got to implement it, so that the people of Tana Delta can enjoy Vision 2030. We cannot talk about Vision 2030 when some people are crying, others dying and others being swept away by floods from some of the projects that we have constructed along our rivers to benefit this nation. There are people who rely entirely on KenGen and TARDA for supply of electricity and water, but there are others who are dying because of the same water. We have to balance the equation. All of us must benefit from whatever projects and what institutions are in place in this country. It is not fair for only one section of the society to benefit while other people die of the same projects. With those remarks, I support the Motion as amended and recommend that we get into action immediately."
}