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{
    "id": 395438,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/395438/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 259,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sijeny",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13127,
        "legal_name": "Judith Achieng Sijeny",
        "slug": "judith-achieng-sijeny"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I wish to support this Motion because it is quite clear that this wonder plant that was brought called Prosopis juliflora - the name is foreign – Mathenge is the easier name that we know. At first, when I saw exhibits in court, I thought this was one big joke. The goat looked so ugly. I thought the natives were up to some mischief and were just rebelling. This came up a while ago. It is sad that since then, life in this area has not improved and people are still suffering. This means the situation is more serious. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I agree that the intention of those who brought this plant was very good. The donors were trying to help a country which was in a grave situation because of extreme drought and harsh weather conditions. It is high time we tried something else. As the Mover of the Motion has said, something has to be done to address this issue. However, I urge that they tread carefully, systematically and thoroughly, so that the problem is solved once and for all. We should not remove all the vegetation and cause suffering. We know that there are more valuable things like oil and minerals that have been discovered in this country. But we also know that Kenyans generally have an agricultural background. We could exploit irrigation to facilitate farming of crops as has been tried in various arid areas, so that the livelihood of Kenyans living around the area improves. It is unfortunate that people from these areas have been suffering. Other than consuming water for the wrong reasons, this is not benefiting people. Malaria and other health hazards are coming up. This has certainly become a nightmare. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this problem has been with us for too long. It is destroying the countryside. This reminds me of the once upon a time very beautiful Lake Victoria. When we would fly over the lake going to land in Kisumu City, one would see a very beautiful lake. It reached a point when we would proceed to land and I would say: “Where are we? We are about to land and we are not seeing the lake.” The lake had become green, dirty and a health hazard. Even the fish disappeared. No wonder all the fish have migrated to the Migingo area. There is now no fish in Lake Victoria. This generally shows that all the good things we would have got from this land are being destroyed. This plant is of no economic value yet we have Vision 2030 and the 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."
}