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{
    "id": 594304,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/594304/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 117,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ganya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 18,
        "legal_name": "Francis Chachu Ganya",
        "slug": "francis-ganya"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank all the hon. Members who have contributed to the Senate Amendments to the National Drought Management Authority Bill, which originated from this House as a Private Member’s Bill, and which I moved. We are handling two amendments from the Senate. We agreed with Clause 8, whereby the Senate wanted that a member or a representative from the Council of Governors be a member of the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Board. Drought management is a function clearly stated in the Constitution for both levels of government; the national Government and the county government. Since most of those drought initiatives are done at the county level, it is critical for the interest of the county government to be represented on the board of the proposed authority. We agreed on this with the Senate. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on Clause 4, the Senate wanted the Authority to establish offices in all the 47 counties. The imperative word used there is “shall” which means it is a must. Not all counties in Kenya are drought prone and, therefore, being a national authority with a mandate, they should establish offices as appropriate; when the need arises. Due to the climate change, there are some counties which are wetter today but will be drier in future. It will not be prudent for the taxpayers’ money to be used to establish offices where, maybe, drought is not an issue. If the law is passed, since it says “shall”, they will have a duty to establish offices in every county, including areas where it rains every day, like some parts of Rift Valley where I have visited before. That is our thinking. That it will cost the taxpayer so much money, and it might not be necessary. There will be employees and offices, and there will be cost associated with that. It may not be very appropriate. We decided to reject that particular amendment and mediate with the Senate, so that they could see the sense we are seeing as a committee. Those are the only two issues. Otherwise, we agreed with all the other issues without a problem. They agreed with the proposals from this House without any problem, except on those two proposals. If this law is passed, drought management will never be the same in Kenya. We will have an authority which will manage, plan, prepare and intervene appropriately during drought crisis. They will also coordinate drought interventions in the whole country, mobilise resource globally and nationally and ensure there is no duplication. It will do research in the best strategies and means to manage drought in this country. With its establishment, we can replicate the models from Israel, Egypt and many other drought prone nations in this world, which are able to manage drought and people are able to live refined lives. People there do not see the kind of crisis we see every two years when we have drought crises in Kenya. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, this Bill sets aside a contingency fund. It is just the way we put money aside for the National Cereals and Produce Board of Kenya (NCPBK) to enable Kenyans and the Government to buy maize and cereals to distribute to other parts of the country. There will be a fund set aside to ensure timely intervention. The Government will take leadership in drought management instead of international agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The Government will stop being a follower. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}