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    "id": 565662,
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    "content": "for which we put a lot of money have got their direct interlink and origin in the issue of food security. For as long as there is no food security in this nation, we will always deal with the issue of slums and put a lot of money into slum upgrading. If you put enough food in the rural areas, nobody will leave rural areas to come to urban centres in search of a better life because they will be leading a better life there. By extension, we will not have the issue of housing problem in urban centres. The money that we put into slum upgrading and research on how to eradicate poverty will be a thing of the past. It just takes a little bit of strategy – as I said at the beginning – focus and support from the Executive to sort out this perennial problem. As I conclude, I want to differ a little bit with my colleagues who find fault with the creation of the national authority. In my opinion, this is a very important matter. I support devolution to the core. I believe that the devolved units must have their own devolved functions and systems on how to feed the counties. However, there must be a national authority. What happens in case one county is not running an adequate programme to feed its populace? In such event, the function will be transferred to the national Government because the Government is still mandated and has an obligation to feed its people. So, I support the creation of a national authority but with a decentralised system in all the 47 counties that liaise just in the same manner that we have created the 47 devolved units so that we have an oversight authority; the National Authority working closely with the different 47 authorities in the counties that will have tailor-made policies specific to those counties in respect of the climatic conditions and other issues. However, the National Authority will be called upon in case there is a deficit in any part of the country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have discussed before the need to re-direct certain rivers to provide water in some counties. In the absence of this kind of a national authority, we will not have a platform to implement such policies. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I would like the Mover even as we present this – of course, at the Committee level, we will present the various issues we want to be tackled – to ensure that the Bill has got a very strong component of budgetary allocation with it; probably a specific percentage. Sen. Sang has reminded us that Kenya is a signatory to certain protocols that have put a limit at 15 per cent. It is really shocking that even after being a signatory to those kinds of agreements, we still come back home and contravene whatever we have agreed on and reduce the allocation to 6 per cent. Honestly, we can come up with policies, conduct research and do everything possible. But if we are not going to have the seriousness to allocate adequate resources towards such an important cause as feeding the nation, which also has interconnections with all other issues that affect this nation, because we are not able to feed ourselves, then this is going to be an effort in futility. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my last point is on civic education. I think we take certain things for granted. I want to support and plead with the Mover to also have that aspect of civic education included. We take it for granted that Kenyans are aware of good eating habits, but the public should be encouraged. We have a lot of foodstuffs even 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."
}