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{
    "id": 563720,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/563720/?format=api",
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    "content": "them will start thinking of entrepreneurial tenders and all that instead of looking at the good. I am trying to tell those out there that the Senate is doing one thing; providing a framework on how to ensure that our people – both at the counties and the national Government –do not die of hunger. We want to ensure that we do not see faces on the television where people from some counties and cry to the national Government that they need relief food when there is drought. This is a framework that will bring in county governments to sit down with the national Government and ensure that when there is a challenge of food security, both the national and county Governments are responsible to their people. Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 7 provides for the establishment of a food insecurity and information mapping system to serve as an early warning system. This system will assist, especially at the county level, where there will be committees which will look at disaster management plans and emergency preparedness strategies and provide a basis for identification of the appropriate corrective measures for the purpose of addressing and preventing causes of food insecurity. It also provides for the formation of food impact assessment prior to the implementation of any policies or programmes on food security. Clause 8 provides for the powers of the President in the case of a food emergency. During this period, the powers vested in the Authority, are vested in the Cabinet Secretary. Madam Temporary Speaker, while we unlock the realisation of this Article in the Constitution, we must also remember that there is always a challenge in terms of food security. At one point, you will find that in one region, there is surplus food. You will find that there is a challenge in another region where there is no food at that time. Counties should ensure that there is food security. Governors and county governments should liaise with each other through a mapping system. They should inform each other that they, for example, have a surplus of maize, but their people do not have beans. Another county should also call and say that they have a surplus of, for example, beans, but lack vegetables or something else. By doing that they will ensure that at any given point or time no one within their counties dies for lack of food. This is one issue that we have always seen for the past 50 years. We rush to give emergency food after Kenyans start dying. It is usually the media that creates the awareness. Thereafter, the Kenya Red Cross Society and other institutions or Kenyans of goodwill come out to support the course. When we have a framework, somebody should be responsible and accountable. There should be somebody who we can question and ask why Kenyans have to die within their county due to lack of food. Therefore, Madam Temporary Speaker, I thank the Committee whose Vice Chairperson has just walked out. The work it has done, in terms of enriching the Bill, is commendable. We now have a Bill that any Kenyan or the Government can look at and thank the Senate for ensuring that since we formed county governments, we will have a 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."
}