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{
    "id": 380630,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/380630/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
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    "content": "concerns the livelihoods of people. This is a matter of life to the residents of that area. Dams were constructed after feasibility studies were done. I am sure that if we looked into the archives and read something about the Masinga Dam, you will see a clause that says that the dam is supposed to control floods. It is unfortunate that the same dam that was supposed to control floods is that area is the one causing floods. We do not know what has gone wrong. Is the problem the floods, nature, management or poor planning? We are yet to know. It is also unfortunate that when this water is being released, there is no information given to people downstream to the effect that waters will be let go. This is unfortunate and uncaring on the part of the Government. Our Constitution guarantees that people must be given information on issues that concern their lives. The solution to some of these problems is to construct smaller dams along the tributaries of River Tana. I believe that the main dams that were constructed, to a large extent, have been silted. Siltation is a big problem and we do not know whether the water is being released to flash out the silt or what it is supposed to do. As we speak about Tana River, we should not forget the citizens of other areas including Trans Nzoia who suffer because of floods that are caused by small rivers. River Nzoia causes floods, destroys crops and causes loss of lives every year within Trans Nzoia. My colleague, Prof. Lonyangapuo, has talked about River Swam and others. During the rainy season, if you visit Namanjalala area of Kwanza Constituency you will find an area called Folkland. This area bears that name because the word “folk” means an area with an abundance of water. Every year, the residents of that area have their crops and houses destroyed but the Government has not thought about putting any measures in place to control the river. Saboni River is small by any standards. If we were to put dykes on all sides, that would not cause any major problems. While dealing with a swampy area, what you need is a means to channel the water and perhaps to create ponds for fish but nothing of that sort has been done. It is unfortunate that water that is a source of livelihood is becoming a source of despondency. People living in Budalangi and Kano also experience the same problem. People in Turkwell are also experiencing the same problem, year in year out. These people are always promised by the Government that it will do something. What do you expect the mwananchi of Tana River to think about the Government if every year, there are floods and after the floods, there is drought and yet no one cares? If psychologists were to study the minds of those people, they would let you know that this is probably what is causing some of the problems we see in those areas. Landslides continue to cause havoc in some hilly areas during the rainy season and nobody goes to compensate Kerio Valley and Mount Elgon people. Parts of Narok and Baringo and other areas along the Rift Valley experience landslides but nobody cares to compensate these people whenever they have a problem. I suggest that since this is a very complex and important issue that needs to be addressed, the committees concerned; the Committee on Land and Natural Resources and the Committee on Energy, Roads and Transportation should look into the matter seriously and summon the Cabinet Secretaries concerned so as to shed light on what is happening. Why should water be released upon innocent citizens? KenGen has a social responsibility to the people of this country. We appreciate The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}