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{
    "id": 382018,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/382018/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 200,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Melly",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1099,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Kipkemboi Melly",
        "slug": "isaac-kipkemboi-melly"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me this chance to second the amendment by Sen. Muthama. Madam Temporary Speaker, we all know that devolution is about allocating resources to all the counties in Kenya; and that is the job of this House. If there are places, as mentioned, basically where projects were done – we have Rusinga, Turkwel and a number of other companies that operate today – and if the people who live in those areas or the communities surrounding those resources or projects were not compensated, it is our role as the Senate to ensure that they are compensated, and the time is now. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Government has, a number of times, displaced people. There are several such cases and a good example has been mentioned by Sen. Muthama. Today, I ask myself one question; yes, these people were displaced; the Government did achieve to construct and to put up a project that is running until today. But what about the lives of those people who lived around there? Are we really building this economy or are we destroying it? Because at the end of the day, those people who were displaced there are very poor today and they live in terrible conditions. These people were displaced by the Government. On that note, what I am trying to say is that the Government should compensate all people across the board within the 47 counties. If there were people who were displaced and the projects are running, let all of them be compensated so that they can come to their original positions and help build this Republic. Madam Temporary Speaker, in those dams, we have the water resource as the Mover said. His was my lecturer and Principal at the university. I congratulate you Senator. There are water resources in these dams. I was trying to inquire and I found out that money was allocated to these dams for irrigation but until today there is no irrigation in a majority of these dams. So, the question that we are asking today is, where did this money go? Money was allocated for irrigation and people should produce food so that this country can have enough food. Today we cannot believe the prevailing situation. Money was allocated but nothing has been done. Our job is about fairness and, therefore, as the Senate we should see to it that everybody who has been denied a chance is given a chance to change their lives. Lastly, companies have what we call corporate social responsibility. I do not know to what extent these companies have done this job to ensure that the communities that live around these dams are provided with schools, hospitals and infrastructure. I want to request that this Senate comes up with a law to ensure that every company that operates within a certain place across the 47 counties has something to offer to the people who live there. That is our job and we can do it. If these things are done the way they should be done, I am sure the lives of many people will change. We look forward to all 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."
}