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"content": "per cent of the national Budget, segmented in various departments and responsible execution areas but it remains a kitty at the centre. I would want to see a situation where the national Government budgets for national disaster preparedness mitigation and management, and the executing agent is the county government, like what happens in the United States of America (USA).When there was Hurricane Katrina in the devastated New Orleans and many parts of Texas, the national Government moved in the army and resources to support the work being done by the Texas State Government. An army that can move in to mitigate, for example, where you have a massive disaster like the bombing of the American Embassy or Westgate and what has been going on in Garissa, even if we say it is the county government and its board that will deal with it, they have no capacity. We cannot possibly station a military garrison in every county. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to have it in this law, an obligation to the national Government, that upon a request or a disaster occurrence, the national Government must be ready to send support mechanisms including personnel, resources, materials and whatever is required to county governments. Let the national Government then partner with the County Disaster Management Authority to mitigate and help the affected citizens. Even where a calamity has befallen pastoralist communities – like where our distinguished colleague who has moved the Bill comes from – if there is a calamity where drought wipes out their livestock, then the national Government must avail funds and partner with the Garissa, Wajir or whichever county government and help farmers restock. Some of us who come from well-watered areas may think that keeping livestock is a luxury. To many parts of this country, livestock is the alpha and omega of people’s lives. In many parts of this country, livestock is the means of livelihood. You cannot do anything if you do not have livestock. Most people have no farms and for those who have, they cannot farm because there is no rain. They live on milk, meat and sometimes draining blood from the animals which is done in other areas as well for food. Therefore, lack of livestock is not just a question of poverty and deprivation but a question of deprivation of total life support mechanism for people in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). The national Government will and must be obligated by the law. If the County Government of Garissa, in Ijara or whichever division, detects that people have lost their livestock en masse, then, it should collaborate and cooperate with the national Government to buy livestock, restock and provide mechanisms of hay, water bowsers and some of the support facilities for people to survive. We want funds to be available in good quantities. At Committee Stage, we may have to see whether we can propose that a percentage of the national Budget, like we have done with the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), should be put in the National Disaster Management kitty. As you know, a country that cannot feed itself and manage its emergencies is a country headed in the wrong direction. Wafadhili, as they are commonly referred to, can come in. However, they only come in to help you on what you are already doing. We cannot have floods in Budalangi and say that Americans will come in and help us to 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."
}