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{
    "id": 496975,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/496975/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 214,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. M’uthari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1576,
        "legal_name": "Joseph M'eruaki M'uthari",
        "slug": "joseph-meruaki-muthari"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this particular Bill. Water is life. It is an important component of development. This Bill is critical in the sense that it harmonizes and updates the Water Act, 2002. It takes into consideration Articles in the Constitution in order to bring to focus issues to do with management of water resources. It is important to note that this Bill proposes the formation of various institutions that will manage our water resources. Of essence is Part II of this Bill which entrusts the ownership of water resources in the national Government. This is important because we have some water resources which run from one county to another. Given what we have been experiencing of late in the country, if water is not entrusted in the national Government there is a possibility that, perhaps, one county could decide to deny a neighbouring county water. This law ensures that there is fair distribution of the water resource so that one area does not deny the other water. There is established the Water Regulatory Authority. Its mandate is regulating the management of our water resources. The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority has been set up. We need to put more emphasis on this institution. Development of water resources is part of infrastructure development. We know that water has the capacity to transform even arid land. Here in Kenya, there is no place that should be considered arid because almost all parts of this country experience rain. We are now experiencing rain in some parts of the country. In the dry areas, we experience floods. If we harvest waters from the floods, like it is done in other parts of the world, then we will have water for drinking by human beings and livestock. The water could also be used for irrigation. This will enable us have a secured livelihood. It is said that after 51 years of Independence, many of our 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."
}