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{
    "id": 499327,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/499327/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 432,
        "legal_name": "Jessica N. Mbalu",
        "slug": "jessica-mbalu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the Water Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 8 of 2014, as presented to the House for the Second Reading. I lost my voice this weekend trying to answer questions by the women of Kibwezi Constituency, Makueni County where there is no water. The question was: With this Government, where is water? The problem of Kibwezi Constituency, Makueni County, is water. Number two problem is water. Number three problem is water. Number four, five up to infinity is water. Article 43(1) (d) of the Constitution spells out very well the economic and social rights of every Kenyan. I want to quote for Kenyans “Every person has the right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities.” When we look at the Water Act, 2002 and Article 62, it talks about the right to clean water. It has not talked much about the availability and this is one of the problems we are facing even as we talk about equalisation. In my constituency, I may give some few facts, that my women walk for about five to six kilometres just to get a 20 litre water jerrycan. The women go through the risk of sexual abuse on their way. My girls whom I represent do not go to school because of lack of water. Having worked in the water sector, I think we need to look at the issues very well because I know we will come with amendments from the Committee. I am thankful that the Committee Chair is a lady and I am impressed by the contributions of the ladies in this House to the Water Bill because most of the problems that come with water are really borne by the women. Of course, we are not saying that men are not involved. When I take water to my family, children and husband, all of them use it. As for the quality of water, we are talking about access to quality water. In some areas like Kibwezi, we do not have water, not just safe drinking water; even dirty water is not available."
}