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{
    "id": 385729,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/385729/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Whenever I hear of fires in Sidindi or any disaster anywhere in this country, there is a likelihood of 90 per cent of those who are affected if not 100 per cent being the Kenyan poor. One of the reasons I would concoct a conspiracy theory is that unless these issues impact on us directly, we hardly find the need to address them. Instead of putting in place measures to ensure that all of us are secure, we fortify our houses and make sure that we offer private solutions to power cuts. There is hardly a programme of agitation. The Senate must define itself as a defender of the interest of the Kenyan people in terms of equality and justice to all of them. What we need to do, as we look at disasters, is not to merely concentrate on the issue of compensation, but to avert the potential disaster so that we avert the potential impact it has on the Kenyan poor. The lady we see on television is not very excited about putting up an act year in, year out. We, as a country or as a society, need to care for those who are most affected. We must also put equal responsibility in our plans as technocrats. Our planners and technocrats should avert some of these crises by ensuring that there is advice. When you hear about Tsunami warnings in Asia, you will also realise that the Governments are also ready to offer early warnings and people respond to the early warning systems. Therefore, it is important to put measurable responsibility and accountability to those who are supposed to avert the potential of these crises that continue to allow people to subject themselves to harm’s way across the country. The issue of floods raises very pertinent issues. When I was at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), it was evident that the emergency response systems, especially for poor Kenyans were slow. If a fire was to occur in Kibera, the possibility of a fire engine to make its way there would be minimal. However, if this fire occurred in a more suburban area, it is likely that the crisis can be averted. Therefore, our planners, technocrats and the people we place in positions of responsibility to ensure that our people are safe and secure must be continue to be held accountable. They should be asked why they did not issue an advice, why they did not issue a warning on the poor settlement, why they did not report the matter and why action was not taken early. I have continued to raise this point in the Senate. It is not only important for you to respond to a crisis but also to punish and expect accountability by those who do not undertake their responsibilities with diligence. In this country, we know how to blame everybody else, but ourselves. Why would you wait until something happens and a catastrophe strikes? When we construct roads and build estates in Mombasa and other parts of this country, why is there no provision for drainage systems? Where are the town planners and the professionals who were hired to do the job? Where were they to avert a particular crisis? I think it is important as we support this Motion of Adjournment, to ensure that we place responsibilities on our people so that they are held accountable for whatever action they take or omissions that they make. I beg to support. 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."
}