Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 382903,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/382903/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 72,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Constitution is very clear in Article 10. Article 10(2)(d) says that one of the national values and principles of governance is sustainable development. If you read Article 60 of the Constitution which is on principles of land policy, it also provides that sustainable and productive management of land resources is an important principle. It is well documented and accepted internationally both within the United Nations (UN) circles and member states of the UN that polluter-pay principle is very important in sustainable development. This was concretized in the UN Environment Conference in 1992 in Rio de Janerio where the principle of polluter-pay was affirmed. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think it is unfair that for so many years, as a continent, we have taken our natural resources for granted. We have assumed that water will always be there, the fact that we have forests will always be there and the natural resources are so obvious in Africa. Last week, I had an opportunity to travel to Brussels, which you are very much familiar with due to your previous engagements, and we were happy about the infrastructure in Europe. The taxi driver told that me, Africans, are foolish because we go there to admire institutions and buildings that were actually built using our own resources and yet we have the same resources in Africa. He told us that Europe would never have been the way it is had it not been for the natural resources we exported there. Again, I had a chance to go to Geneva. If you go to the City of Geneva, in all corners you can actually drink water in the streets. That is how other countries are taking their resources seriously. I am sure in 1900, you could go to Tana River and drink the water somewhere in Machakos without any fear but now because we take our natural resources for granted, we have polluted this river. Anybody who has a need to dispose waste will find it easy to go to the running water and do it there. We must stop this. I support this Motion because it is important that we stop polluting these rivers. We should be a nation that restores its values. The reason why we had a new Constitution and put sustainable development as one of the important principles is because we wanted to restore our values. We wanted to respect the lower riparians because the people there also have a right to use the water, just like those who are upstream. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that at the opportune time, the amendment requiring that this Motion applies across the country will come. It is important that as a nation, we invest in water. Water is the most expensive resource in this country than even petrol. For a small bottle of water, you will buy it at Kshs70 and yet it is only 500 millimetres. This is more expensive than petrol. This is because we have polluted water and then made it scarce for anyone to get clean water for drinking. I support this Motion because it is important that we take action. This is my only fear and I said we are learning. I like the reason Sen. Muthama has provided for a report after six months. This is because we do not want to be a talking House. We are going to see the results. I think it is important that the Executive takes this very seriously. The Cabinet Secretary responsible for this docket should take it very seriously and bring the report. I think even after those six months, we shall make a further decision as to whether we need another report after those six months so that at the end of the four years, we can sit down as a Senate and say that we contributed to sustainable development through a Motion that was brought by a senior Member of this House. Thank you. 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."
}