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{
    "id": 385705,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/385705/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 107,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "She sleeps on the job. When it rains again she forgets that she ever promised to harvest water. I am saying that time has come that we must now take stock of the performance of our governments during the last 50 years, particularly as it relates to certain disasters like floods. We have certain counties and I want to refer to my own county of Kitui which is perennially arid. We have no water. When people are crying because of floods, we are crying because of drought. Sen. Zani is talking about floods caused by River Tana. The easiest thing would have been to cut canals along River Tana and pour water into those dry areas so that they can grow their food. This is talked about when we are getting famine relief. When it rains a bit, we forget about it. Now for the floods that Sen. Zani and the Senator for Tana River are talking about, I know it is coming from the negligence of KenGen because it is allowing water, without due warning to the residents in the Lower Tana. While they do not even have rains, they wake up in the morning and they find KenGen has allowed water to flow and consequently it overflows into their homes. So, they have to be evacuated while some drown. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think they should have called for compensation by KenGen, so that they are called upon to account for their actions. Why on earth would a government parastatal release water to affect communities downstream, kill them, destroy their properties and behave as if nothing has happened? So, my fellow Senators, we need to be responsible. The Government, yes, has announced a committee for disaster management in this respect, but we have not seen any action other than the announcement. Even if this committee is formed, it is not a solution because year after year, floods occur. I am talking about Tana River because, for the information of Senators, I was the District Commissioner for Tana River in 1975 and 1976. This phenomenon used to happen. Without any notice, communities would be evacuated because water has been released. So, I am saying that we cannot go on with problems year after year, forever and ever. We must put a stop to certain situations and say enough is enough and this situation must be arrested. So, I am supporting the Motion of Adjournment and calling on those responsible for harvesting water to do so and direct it to where it is needed, namely, in the arid areas of this country. They also have to be careful and ensure that they do not release water which is going to adversely affect the lives of other people. Finally, I want to call on KenGen and others who are responsible for the waters, to compensate the communities that are suffering. With those few remarks, I support."
}