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{
    "id": 381133,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/381133/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 116,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As we all know, the five water towers that we have are on the verge of degenerating into deserts because of deforestation. Most people are even harvesting the trees and even cultivating along river banks thus facilitating soil erosion. We have had mudflows, landslides and extension of river banks to other valleys as more soil erosion takes on the banks. So, the only way we can avoid this menace is by trying to prevent encroachment along river banks and that is the spirit of this Motion. If that happens, we will restrict erosion along river banks. It will also restrict river erosion both vertically and laterally. This will ensure smooth flow of the river from the mouth to the ocean. When this happens, we are going to have water well spread from the source to the mouth and people staying along the river banks will benefit even more than those others who would have settled along it. This brings us now to what we would call the riverine revolution where the rivers in Kenya are going to be put into use for their intended purpose. If it is for lumbering, let it be for lumbering. If it is for navigation, let it be for navigation. That is what we are lacking in Kenya compared to other developed countries. I want to draw your attention to what I said here one time about the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) which was instituted by none other than the President of the United States of America (USA) in 1945, called Franklin Roosevelt. There was a problem in River Tennessee which occasionally would cause floods in the lower section in Alabama and even cause deaths due to flooding. So, the Americans came up with a policy which made River Tennessee a multi-purpose development project. So, it was developed to harness and store the water when it rains. If this can happen here in Kenya and many other African countries, we will have water when we need it. When the water is too much during the rainy season, we will store it in the many dams that we will build. If we can afford many dams from the source to the mouth of the river, we will regulate the flow and there will be no serious erosions along the banks. This way, we will make use of that stored water to irrigate neighbouring lands during the dry season. That will increase the food security in the neighbourhood. This is what should happen. In many places, cultivation on river banks cause serious erosion hence transporting fertile soils to the sea. To me, this is not necessary because we have lost all the soil which would have been used by farmers. In this case, I will call upon the Government to make sure that river banks are preserved. We must make sure there is no erosion and water is flowing consistently up to the mouth of the river. This is what most of the developed counties have done. They have few problems when it comes to navigation. We can use the same river, like River Tana, for navigation which can also be used by people living along the river to transport their wares, both agricultural and industrial materials downstream and upstream. We also need to imagine that such rivers, like the River Rhine stretching from Switzerland to Poland, is well maintained and those who live along those rivers utilize them. Given the scenario we have in Kenya, such rivers like River Tana, having its source in Mt. Kenya, we need to observe and make sure that those living upstream are given adequate caution and those living downstream are made to make sure that the river beds, even in the water sheds, are properly forested . Any tree which is deforested is replanted, so that we preserve the forest, conserve the river and prevent soil erosion downstream to the sea. The soil being eroded is fertile soil which can be used by farmers. 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."
}