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{
    "id": 445800,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/445800/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 13,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Abdalla",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 382,
        "legal_name": "Amina Ali Abdalla",
        "slug": "amina-abdalla"
    },
    "content": "(iii) The measures the Government is taking to ensure that the local community is not exploited by unscrupulous individuals wishing to acquire ownership to the said land, considering that the resource is situated in a community land. The Ministry responded as follows:- The Ministry, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Government of Japan, carried out ground water survey and mapping in Turkana County from May 2012 to September 2013, in order to identify the potential for ground water development. Five Basins with high potential for ground water storage were identified. The identified Basins are located in Lotikipi, Gatome, Nakalale, Kechoda and Lodwar areas. Two boreholes were drilled in Lodwar and Lotikipi in order to confirm the accuracy of the mapping exercise. The boreholes have high yields of water. In order to exploit the discovery for purposes of providing the residents with water, the Ministry prepared a three year plan running from November 2013 to November 2016 to be implemented in three phases. In the first phase running from November 2013 to June 2014, four additional boreholes have been drilled in Lodwar Basin bringing to five the total number of boreholes in the area, including the one at Napuu. The yield of the new boreholes ranges from 35 cubic meters per hour to 90 cubic meters per hour. The first borehole in Napuu, Lodwar, has already been installed with a pump and is in operation, producing 42 cubic meters per hour of water currently in use by residents. Equipping of the borehole at Lotikipi is in progress while equipping of the other four boreholes is expected to be completed by the end of July 2014. In the second phase running from July 2014 to June 2015, a total of 10 boreholes will be drilled; four at Lotikipi Basin, two at Gatomi Basin, two at Kechoda Basin and another two at Nakalale Basin. In the third phase running from July 2015 to November 2016, a water investment plan for Turkana County will be prepared based on identified water resources. Capacity building to equip local experts with the necessary skills on management and development of the ground water resources in the county will also be carried out. With regard to the measures the Government is taking to sensitize the community in particular concerning establishment of irrigation projects, land adjudication and resettlement, the Ministry is studying the characteristics of the discovered aquifers to determine the amount of water that can be exploited for use by residents. Once the amount of water available is established, the water investment plan will be prepared accordingly in consultation with stakeholders. The investment plan will contain socio- economic projects that use those water resources, including irrigation. Further, the Ministry will collaborate with other institutions notably the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Land Commission to identify and determine the land suitable for Agriculture, grazing and resettlement. With regard to the measures the Government is taking to ensure that the local community is not exploited by individuals wishing to acquire ownership of the said land considering that the resource is situated in a community land, the Ministry will, in collaboration with other relevant Government institutions, explore the possibility of declaring such basins as vital water bodies which should be protected and safeguarded for sustainable utilization in an equitable manner. Thank you. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}