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{
    "id": 381636,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/381636/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 133,
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    "content": "continued to discriminate against the natives as the natives would move up and down looking for grass and water, spreading diseases from one place to another; and that is the spirit of this Motion. If the Government can come up with that solution to control the diseases which are rampant in such ASAL areas, then the pastoralists and nomads living in those areas can make a living out of the environment. There is no way we can move that chunk of land to another area. The status quo must, therefore, remain. We cannot remove them, and because of that, the Government should come up with a permanent solution to that problem, and the solution is what we are now discussing. Let there be this disease free zones so that we can try to see how to make use of the livestock in the ASAL areas. That can be done. There is a railway line up to Nanyuki and it is possible to extend it up to Mt. Kenya through Timau and to Isiolo so that even those who are beyond Isiolo can transfer the animals – either live or slaughtered – to the railway stations and then the meat is taken to the market areas like Nairobi and Mombasa. Live animals can also be transported to Athi River for slaughter. It is also true to say that countries like Nigeria, not even very far from Botswana, have such a policy and their systems are working. So, if they can have this system – and we are all in the Sahelian area – I therefore believe that even Kenya should be able to fit into that programme of erecting abattoirs and slaughterhouses in those remote areas, making sure that animals are taken for slaughter and then the meat is transported by air or rail through refrigerated cars. That is possible and it has happened elsewhere. So, if it is happening in other countries, I believe we should be able to save these people before they are declared as very poor or before they sell their animals at throw away prices. The Government should, therefore, step in and save them. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is also important to note that livestock as an industry is regarded by the Government as a productive Ministry. Therefore, the Government should pump in some money into maintaining livestock to proper health so that those animals can be the mainstay for the economies of the said areas. This is not to say that it is only livestock in those ASAL areas. We need also to make sure that we engage the pastoralists living in those areas by giving them proper research in terms of seeds; irrigation schemes should be established, we need to have what we call the water beds or the wet grass areas. For example, if it is around the River Tana, we should maintain a corridor where these people will be grazing their animals even when it is dry. We have some permanent swamps, like Lorian Swamp, which is somewhere in North Eastern Province at the mouth of River Ewaso Nyiro. That area should be considered as a pastoral area because it is not irrigated. Normally, when you go to those areas, you will find it easier to graze the animals in the fresh grass areas. We also have research stations in Longilite which is on River Turkwel. They have enabled short lived grass to grow. So, research can be done to make sure fodder crops are provided in the areas where pastoralists live so that they can feed the animals even when it is dry. They should also be encouraged by extension officers to make hay while the sun shines like the way they do it in the northern hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, we have three months of summer and the rest is winter. Out of the 12 months, the animals will be feeding for about nine months on hay. Why can we not have our animals feeding in the dry months? It is possible to come up with a policy to make sure that the people living in these areas are not discriminated just because of 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."
}