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{
    "id": 373758,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/373758/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 214,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "seven or eight years ago, and I thought the problem has since been solved. To my surprise, it is still causing havoc to the people of that region. What I can tell this House is that people in those constituencies do not get to know when water will flood the area because they do not experience rain. Rain falls almost 200 kilometres away, yet these people experience floods. What KenGen used to do during our time is that they would make a call that they would release water in three or four days. There is no sufficient time for the information to reach residents downstream that the water is going to be released and that it will cause havoc. The water is then released. The people downstream, for example, in Bura totally rely on the river as a livelihood. Actually, they live on the riparian area. They have no option but to stay there. When the water comes, it destroys all their crops. The people in these areas are pastoralists, but the Government has been engaging them and teaching them how to grow crops. They took it very willingly. There was assistance by the World Bank and a lot of equipments were bought in order to harness the water for irrigation. The machines are connected to the river and when the water comes, it is really destructive. The water changes course most times and so it destroys property belonging to people living even 20 kilometres away. To get the water to its right course is a massive cost. Thirdly, when the water is released, it threatens Garissa Town and Bura. We see a situation whereby in the next 20 or 30 years half of Garissa will not be there because of that water. I happened to be part of a project meant to protect the river bank. We used a lot of money. The question is: What should we use this water for? Even if a new dam is constructed, what is the purpose of the water? The water must benefit the people who belong in that area. The water must be made useful to them. If you just keep the water there and they are not even enjoying the electricity--- In my view the water could be deviated to the drier areas so that it is used for irrigation. This will be in line with the Jubilee policy of expanding irrigation in the country. An area like Dujis would benefit a great deal. During the dry season, there is a lot of hunger. In Samburu North we feed people on relief food 24 hours and yet when it rains we have a lot of water going to waste. We should not just look at Tana River, but the entire country so that we tackle drought. I support this Motion as amended. Let us have some action."
}