Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 398766,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/398766/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 42,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is a challenge that we need to put more land under irrigation, but there is no adequate water or we might strain our rivers. This can be resolved thorough the harvesting of rain water. The technology required is not very complicated. We just need to put some roofs, even if it is just shed and put some gutters around it. Within two or three days, you have huge volumes of water. I really think that time has come, not only to pass such a Motion, but to also think of how we can actually legislate and put in place a law. I have looked at the Irrigation Act to see how this Act as read together with the Agriculture Act, which will be repealed once the new agricultural laws come in place---- We are trying to see what kind of legislative proposals we can put in place to ensure that conservation of the environment becomes a legal requirement. Over and above such a Motion, we should be thinking of ways in which we can create a conservation fund where the Government is actually forced to set aside a bit of money for conservation, including water conservation, so that our goals can be realized. We have legislated on other things like forest cover where, for example, we aim at making our country achieve ten per cent forest cover. I do not see why we cannot legislate on certain targets in the water sector in terms of the amount of water which is available, especially if we have to ease the burden which is there on our rivers. There is now a lot of pressure on the international water courses. Right now, there is a huge debate and the Seconder of this Motion mentioned about it, for example, the fact that we contribute a lot of water to Lake Victoria which ends up flowing and assisting other countries downstream, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the point that I am making is that this water problem is linked, not only to the internal security of this country, but also to international security. This is because the tensions around water, its availability and the equitable utilization of water resources, are not only a national problem, but also an international problem. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I really hope that this Motion can be passed. It is what the Constitution envisaged by having Chapter 5. We need to think of what kind of legislation can give effect to Chapter 5, including legislations that create targets. I have given the example of the forestry targets, which are now part of our legal framework. Going forward, I would like to see more of what we used to see in the 1980s. The Presidency of Daniel arap Moi, which had its own challenges like any presidency, can be credited with one thing. The President was in the forefront of environmental conservation. When it comes from that level, it becomes like a national culture. There was a lot of building of gabions---"
}