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{
    "id": 531372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/531372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 344,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to contribute to the debate on this Bill. Looking at the Bill, drought is an issue that deserves all the attention because it affects a big portion of this country. Drought and other weather phenomena are equally important. Since there are so many issues concerning climate that are affecting the country and in view of the fact that there is need to collapse functions to one Authority, I would think that if this Bill was expanded, so that its functions capture the other climate change phenomena, it would go a long way in mitigation. Issues of climate change include flooding. If we are going to form this NDMA and then, later on, we realize that we also need to manage floods and the environment which we have this afternoon been talking about--. I would support this Bill provided there would be amendments to bring in these other weather phenomena. It should read: “Drought, Climate change and Environment Management Authority.” This is so because most of the functions that this NDMA will carry out are already functions that have been assigned to the county governments by the Constitution. We may end up with an authority that has very little to do. We could expand it to include these other issues like floods and diseases that affect crops like the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) which affects maize. I would expect that this authority also deals with issues of mitigating the effects of such diseases. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is also the issue of foreign plants that have been introduced in this country, which are causing havoc, particularly in the same drought affected counties. In this case, I am referring to a plant called Mathenge tree which is really affecting very many areas. If we are talking about drought, then such issues may not be captured. We should bring in such issues. Drought continues to endanger the lives of our people and property. There is a lot of mismanagement of our natural resources, including land. We are no longer planning on land use. The Constitution talks about proper land use, but since the enactment of the constitution, there seems to have been no effort to effect policy on land use. In this case, I am thinking about issues of zoning. We can zone this country and know which areas grow maize like Trans Nzoia and support them fully. In areas of rangeland, we should support range management and the pastoralists to improve on their livestock, management, grazing land and provide water. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}