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{
    "id": 497045,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/497045/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 284,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Saney",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2988,
        "legal_name": "Ibrahim Abdi Saney",
        "slug": "ibrahim-abdi-saney"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, in view of this and with the reality that climate variability and climate change are with us, it is prudent that we come with good legislations to manage water in a holistic manner. In a manner that is encompassing and an integrated approach that brings together all the stakeholders in the sector. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Bill is well thought and it has some key developments, especially in the establishment of the Water Sector Trust Fund. The fact that there are prudent mechanisms for dispute resolution, a water tribunal is being proposed. However, there are issues worth mentioning that need fine tuning. There are so many structures that are being espoused by the Bill and it is so confusing. There is the Water Services Regulatory Authority and the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority. There is so much duplication, and I believe we need to have one stable independent institution that will oversee the management of the water sector in this country. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, this Bill gives the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resource immense power; the power to make regulations at will. We need to bring on board stakeholders before the Cabinet Secretary is given the leeway to make regulations. It is good to know that laws are made for this country and it is only worthy if all stakeholders are being brought on board than giving the Cabinet Secretary, who is an individual; sweeping powers to make regulations. Further, in the Bill there is so much confusion on the mandate of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority under Clause 28 and that of the Water Resources Regulatory Authority. It would be better to merge these institutions since having different institutions with similar mandates would burden the taxpayer, who is already bearing the burden of the bloated wage bill about which we cry every day. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, there is also much confusion in Clause 8 in terms of references being made to National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, which is in other circumstances being referred to as Water Storage Authority. So, there is confusion. It sounds as if it is the same institution yet the readings indicate that these are two different institutions. Under Clause 68, there is the Water Service Regulatory Authority which, again, duplicates the functions of the Water Resource Regulatory Authority, under Clause 9. This creates more confusion and, therefore, we need to come up with one strong institution that will oversee the management of water resources. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, one major mistake contained in this Bill is the proposal to use Equalisation Fund, which is a constitutional fund under the purview of the national Government. This Bill seeks to limit the use of the Equalisation Fund to only water. It proposes that the Fund be used to resource the Water Sector Trust Fund, which is unacceptable. We, in the ASAL areas, who also benefit from the Equalisation Fund, have other uses beyond water in as much as water is a serious need. The proposal tends to limit the needs to which the Equalisation Fund is to be used. We have roads which are yet to be done more than 50 years since Independence. The education sector also needs attention. In any case, the Equalisation Fund is supposed to be used for trans-country projects. 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."
}