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{
    "id": 382844,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/382844/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 13,
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    "content": "processes and activities likely to endanger the environment; the Senate urges the Government to take immediate steps to stop pollution of Tana and Athi rivers, compel polluters to compensate those affected and further that the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources submits a report to the Senate within six months on specific measures taken to protect the rivers from pollution and compensation of those affected. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to move this Motion because of many issues affecting our people as a result of pollution. I want to refer this House to 1963 when we attained Independence. One of the key priorities, including what was mentioned in the blue print, is that it was agreed that by the year 2000, every household was expected to have access to piped water. The Government from that time concentrated on trying to manage issues to do with scarcity of water in this country, but it forgot that they were God-given resources. The Government dealt with different issues like drilling boreholes and so on. When we attained our Independence water was close to wananchi in this country. But as I speak now, water has moved hundreds of kilometres away from where it used to be before we attained our Independence. The shortage continues and is not about to be solved if certain measures are not taken to deal with what God gave us. Instead of drilling water we should be taking care of what exists. A lot of resources have been spent on drilling boreholes, building dams and so on. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Nairobi City has been maintained by a single source which draws water from Mt. Kenya region. Ngong Hills is where Athi River draws water from. It provides water for 365 days and nights. While we are facing those challenges, water is flowing all the way to the Indian Ocean. God gave us those resources. However, it is our responsibility to take care of them. Egypt depends on the Nile River which draws water from Lake Victoria. This pollution is not only creating a shortage of water, but is also harmful to human beings because people use that water from Ol Donyo Sabuk all the way to Tana River, but they are not aware of what they are actually drawing. They actually do irrigation along the river bed. They cannot manage to pump the water to their farms. Their animals also drink this water. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, many water boards in urban areas, especially in here in Nairobi, have been formed. Most of them have run into problems because they have no water to manage. Athi River itself is polluted by effluent from Nairobi County. I want to put it on record that what flows into Athi River is raw sewage, disposal from factories and commercial buildings. The main sewer line in Nairobi is in Dandora. All waste from Nairobi is dumped in Dandora. From there, a drainage line has been directed to Athi River. So, what is pumped and flushed in Nairobi is directed to Athi River. It then flows to Ol Donyo Sabuk where there are waterfalls which attract tourists. There are young boys between 15 and 20 years old who do water diving there to impress tourists. They are actually diving into that dirty water which contains sewage, chemicals and all sorts of health hazards. They dive and are paid Kshs100 or Kshs200 for entertaining tourists. They are not aware of what they are consuming. Their health is in danger as a result of the pollution that comes from Nairobi. I am charged by the Nairobi County for whatever 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."
}