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{
    "id": 592448,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/592448/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 230,
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    "content": "needed to talk and agree. We agreed that joint survey teams from Uganda and Kenya be put together to survey and bring the coordinates of our international boundary between Kenya and Uganda. However, nothing has been done to date. We have Lake Jipe in Taita-Taveta. Some sections of the lake that are in Kenya are supposed to be part of Tanzania while some sections that are in Tanzania are supposed to be in Kenya. Tomorrow, you might find that a small lake like Jipe is sitting on phenomenal quantities of natural gas or oil and a conflict could start. We have seen what is happening between Tanzania and Malawi over Lake Malawi. Tanzania claims that the boundary is in the middle of the lake while Malawi claims that Tanzania has no share of the lake. Why has this argument arisen this late? It is because they have found that there is oil at the base of the lake. Everybody wants a piece of the pie. Each has a favourable argument to say the lake is shared. In fact, in Tanzania now, they do not call it Lake Malawi anymore. They call it Lake Nyasa, so that it does not appear to belong to Malawi. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, such things can bring irreversible conflicts. I have just counted in this House the counties, including your own, that are enjoined to defend and protect our international boundaries. More than half of the counties share international boundaries. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary and incumbent upon this Senate to legislate and define our boundaries so that we avoid future conflicts. For example, what Somalia is doing. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is very upsetting to hear that Kenya is being challenged to a duel by Somalia with all that this country has done in furtherance of the abilities to make Somalia a viable country after having the status of a failed state for long. I participated in defining our maritime boundary and filing with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to show, especially after the UN under the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea, allowed the extension of our maritime boundary by 250 kilometres. Today, Somalia which is our neighbour is engaged in most provocative acts, saying that a huge chunk of our ocean in the Indian Ocean is Somali territory. Why have they come up with this after seismic data shows that there are massive deposits of natural gas, oil and fresh water under the salty water of the sea? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, all of a sudden, I doubt if the Government of Somalia is acting on its own to provoke Kenya on this boundary. I believe vested interests by those who want to exploit these resources could be instigating this. If our country and this Parliament do not move quickly to properly and clearly define our boundary, we are headed to some uncomfortable headwinds in the near future. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the management of our roads is also a matter that will have to be looked at. Every road whether it is an international highway or not, passes through some territory of the county. Therefore, there is need for a collaborative approach between the county governments and the national Government in the management of our roads. You do not have to wait for the benevolence of somebody from Nairobi to know that a road in Meru County has been dilapidated. Those who live there will see the road wearing away and will cause action to repair, maintain or reconstruct the roads. We must work together. This House has a duty to ensure that corrective measures are taken to ensure that county governments and the national Government work together. I cannot fathom a situation where for example Ndakaini dam in Murang’a supplying water to Nairobi - we thank the people of Murang’a for protecting and conserving that dam - is 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."
}