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{
    "id": 398855,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/398855/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
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    "content": "group, all of them largely unemployed. They were contributing Kshs10, Kshs20 or Kshs30 a daily basis, so that at the end of the day, they build one water tank for a family. If we just did simple calculations, you can imagine about 100 women contributing to build one water tank which costs about Kshs80,000. So, it would take them probably 80 years to build just one tank for each family. The about-turn of my thinking came one day when I attended a funeral of a woman who had been a member of that group. It was her turn to have a water tank built for her, and the project had started in her own compound. For three years the contributions that they were making would go towards building her tank. But before the end of that term and before she could see her dream come true, she died and was buried next to her dream. From that point on, I decided that I was going to be amongst the few people who would make a difference in what happens when it comes to water storage facilities for our people and families. Madam Temporary Speaker, for ten years I have gone round and seen so many stories and tales of deprivation and humiliation, that I would not tell on the Floor of this House this morning. I have seen human beings sharing a water pond with cows. Women and children go to the same pond where cows have been drinking for months and water is muddy and murky. That is what they draw and drink. I have seen children turned into domestic slaves, because before they go to school, they will have to carry jericans and bring water which is going to be used by the family. I have seen women who have been turned into slaves in their own families. Some have even become expert donkey riders in poor homesteads and areas. They have to learn the art of leaving in the morning riding a donkey with the cart to draw water and coming back after more than three hours, just to provide clean water to their families. That is the crusade of what I have been doing, after starting the Wamatangi Foundation, which, indeed, gives me the name Wamatangi, which means the one who provides clean water storage facilities and tanks for families. Madam Temporary Speaker, since I know that my colleagues in this House have effectively prosecuted this matter and the policies that need to be put in place, I would like to keep it very simple, with very few facts. To begin with, the people who are mostly affected by this problem are the poorest of the poor. That is the statistics that we have in our foundation. This is because they are the ones who cannot afford any other alternative storage facilities for water. So, this problem multiplies and brings even more problems in families and communities. If we look at probably some of the areas which have been highlighted a lot of late as having a jigger menace – and I have been visiting those places – the families which are stricken are indeed poor and have no clean water or water storage facilities. They are, indeed, poor families who have no clean water or water storage facilities, and it ends up being a real humiliation to that family. Most of the families where water borne ailments or diseases have been prevalent have also been families who have no clean water storage facilities. Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to urge and support by saying to our Government, people and country; that coming up with a clear policy and supporting rain water harvesting can be done without so much logistics. It does not require science; it only requires commitment, and it can be done. Madam Temporary Speaker, it has been said here that during rainy seasons – and that is part of our observation in our foundation – hundreds and millions of gallons of 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."
}