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{
    "id": 595625,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/595625/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
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    "content": "what we are saying that the counties must take care of such weathermen mismanaging the counties. This is why we need to think about insuring farmers from as far as Trans Nzoia where they grow maize, even in areas like the lakes where they fish because the weather forecast could be saying that there will be no rainfall only for the fishermen to go and find that the whole lake is stormy and they find themselves capsizing in the lake, and they lose their lives. We will behave that way because of the forecast of a weather person in the weather station. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the spirit which is captured in this Bill is very important. It is imperative that we have to think about it. It is important that we have to take care of our farmers and our population because without management of the weather, it is disastrous. This is what the Bill is looking into. We have to note that about 12 to 15 per cent of Kenya’s land is arable. The other 85 per cent is arid or semi arid. If there is good weather forecasting, farmers would be told that in the next three or four months, their areas would face drought. Therefore, if a farmer had many animals, he would start destocking. However, this is missing in our weather forecasting stations. It is important for counties to manage this information. This kind of function should be devolved so that every county has its weather station to predict when there would be long or short rainfall. They can persuade people living in the low lands to move to higher areas. This can only be done if correct weather information is given by the weather forecasters. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is not happening over 50 years after Independence. We need to have concrete information from our metrological station in Dagoretti. We should have substations which will inform the neighbouring areas about the weather changes and disasters associated so that we do not lose life as we have been doing in the past, particularly through landslides. In the past, we have seen landslides destroy villages in lowlands in Kisii because they do not have information. However, if information would reach them in time, I am sure that the land slides, mud flows and sludges would be a thing of the past as people would be more careful than before. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, forest fires should also be detected in time because it is a weather phenomenon. Therefore, when forest fires arise in the grasslands; Kapiti Plains, Serengeti and in the national parks like Tsavo, it destroys our flora and fauna and the damage caused is heavy on the tourism industry. What this Bill is trying to address is that if such management is done well, we would save our animals and vegetation. It is important to also note that when constructing buildings, houses, villages, estates and institutions of higher learning, we need to have structural management of the buildings so that we are in conformity with the weather. If a place is too hot, we do not need to have solid blocks. We also need to prevent earthquakes and earth tremors which are associated with the County Governments Disaster Management Bill. This will foresee any problem that might come along. When that is done, we will have buildings which conform with this Bill and have buildings that are very solid in areas that are earthquake and earth tremor prone. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, encourage the Mover of this Bill to make sure that necessary amendments are brought on board before we vote. These are very 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."
}