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{
    "id": 499263,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/499263/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 130,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wandayi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2960,
        "legal_name": "James Opiyo Wandayi",
        "slug": "james-opiyo-wandayi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Deputy Speaker. I was saying that water is an extremely important resource. Indeed, among the national resources that we can talk about that have a possibility of creating disharmony or harmony is water. Many countries have gone to war on account of water. People have fought wars because of competition for water. Even in this country water remains a scarce resource and, therefore, this Bill is a positive step in the right direction in terms of streamlining this very important sector. For the first time, we are going to have water resource management aspects clearly separated from the water service aspects. This Bill will do a lot in terms of streamlining these two very important aspects of water management. We have also seen in this Bill a deliberate attempt to strengthen what we are referring to as “water service boards”. These service boards are important in terms of implementing water projects. In fact, the only way we shall ensure that water resources are managed well and services reach the people at the grassroots is if, as the Bill envisages, water service boards are strengthened and their capacities enhanced to enable them undertake their mandate effectively. That is one very positive thing about this Bill. We are aware that water is essentially a devolved function; water service is 100 per cent devolved to the counties. It is, therefore, important that, as we debate this Bill, we recognize the fact that county governments have a bigger role to play in the management of water resources and the provision of water services. This Bill recognizes this very clearly. We must also take cognizance of the fact that a big chunk of the budget for water management is still provided by donors, that is external donors. This is still the crux of the matter. In the past, a lot of this donor support has been misused. A lot of donor funding has come through, but ended up doing things which were not in the intention of the donor agencies. It is my hope that in the wake of this very liberal and robust Bill, the matter of corruption, in so far as mismanaging the donor funding is concerned, is going to be a thing of the past. That is the surest way for us to address the issue of water scarcity and people having access to water. It is my hope that this Bill is going to help rein in corruption and cartels that have dominated the water sector over the years. I can go on and on but the upshot of my speech is that this is a Bill that requires to be supported by all of us because it is a Bill that is going to essentially ensure that water is no longer a preserve of a small minority, but is a resource that will be enjoyed by the vast majority of the citizens of this country. Therefore, without saying much I want to support this Bill in totality. I happen to sit in the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which has processed this Bill and I am very proud of the work we have done as a Committee, and the good work the Chairlady of that Committee has done together with hon. Members; I want to urge all my colleagues to support this Bill. Thank you very much. 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."
}