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{
    "id": 398740,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/398740/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 16,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kittony",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13110,
        "legal_name": "Zipporah Jepchirchir Kittony",
        "slug": "zipporah-jepchirchir-kittony"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, aware that water is a basic need and that the country cannot exclusively depend on primary sources of water to satisfy all its water needs; deeply concerned that the sole dependence on derivative water sources leads to interruption of water related-activities due to insufficiency; recognizing that water harvesting is a crucial secondary source of water; noting that a lot of water has dissipated due to ineffective programmes and initiatives for harnessing water; cognizant of the fact that rain water that is not harvested causes environmental degradation and damage to infrastructural facilities; recognizing that Article 69 (2) of the Constitution confers to every person a duty to cooperate with state organs and other persons to protect and conserve the environment and ensure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources; the Senate urges the National Government to initiate and formulate water harvesting policies to guide water harvesting programmes in all the 47 counties to reduce over dependence on primary water sources. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we know that water is life. Without it, we cannot survive. My Motion is urging for water harvesting in the 47 counties, realizing that a lot of rain water is wasted. We have about a three months’ spell of dry season in this country where you find that people keep on moving with their livestock from place to place in search of water. We even know that the absence of Sen. Haji from the House is due to the fact that he was looking for water for livestock. I was told by one of the Senators that at one time during crucial moments in this country, they were in Kajiado District and there was no water. So, women were desperate and had to wake up in the morning to use wet grass to clean their dishes. Therefore, my Motion says that we get six or more months of rain in this country and that water is wasted or goes to do a lot of damage like displacing people in the western part of the country and also in the Tana Delta. My Motion seeks to ensure that this water is collected, preserved and treated, so that during the three months of drought, there is water. The harvested water can be used in many ways, for example, in irrigation. I am saying this because there are places like where I come from, that is, Trans Nzoia with good soils and sufficient rainfall, but there are some months which are very harsh. If the water is collected and preserved, continued farming will be realized and we will not run short of things. When you go to a country like Israel, it is amazing because they survive throughout the year because of harvesting and preserving water. There is so much water wasted in this country when it rains. Therefore, I seek to see to it that water is collected, preserved and used in the right manner like irrigation to enable the country produce enough food. 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."
}