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{
    "id": 46861,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/46861/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
    "speaker_title": "The Prime Minister",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 195,
        "legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
        "slug": "raila-odinga"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, you will agree that some questions have been repeated. In order not to bore the House, I will give one answer to all the questions that were repeated. The Member for Imenti Central wanted to know how much money has been set aside. I had already said in my statement, Kshs27 million has been spent for mitigation. We have also spent Kshs135 million for relief food supplies. That money was from the Government. The hon. Member for Mandera East wanted us to deploy the military to secure our borders. Let me explain something that will clear the air regarding this matter. How did the Merilles come into the delta? Members need to know that there is a river called River Omo which comes from Abyssinian Mountains and flows into Lake Turkana. That river is a major supplier of water into Lake Turkana. The Ethiopian Government has constructed hydro-electric dams upstream. They have already constructed three hydro- power generation projects. There is a fourth one, which has some disagreements. Those construction works have undermined the amount of water flowing into Lake Turkana. As a result of that development, the lake waters have been receding towards the Kenyan side. Initially, the lake went up to the border and the delta was on the recipient side. But as the lake has receded, the delta has moved to the Kenyan side. The Merilles have ignored the border posts because, as far as they are concerned, it is the delta that is the border. So, they have followed the lake as it has receded into the Kenyan territory. That is how you find Merilles farming 17 kilometers deep into the Kenyan side of the border. That may clear the air. To them, the delta forms the boundary. However, the delta has shifted and moved right into the Kenyan side for a period of time. This is an issue that needs to be corrected. We have also stated clearly that we have a responsibility as a Government to ensure the territorial integrity of our country and the responsibility of protecting the borders of our country is the responsibility of the military and not the police."
}