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{
    "id": 602932,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/602932/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 129,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "is it that there is a sudden outbreak of cancer in that area and the only peculiar thing to these three centres is oil exploration? The Government in the last report pointed towards that because it was thought to be water. All the water points were tested and there was nothing in them to cause cancer. So, the only thing left out was to research on whether there was environmental pollution as a result of the oil exploration. Unfortunately, in 2009, that was the last time the Government was there. From their report, it was very clear that they knew the direction of this matter. For example, if I could quote part of their report. It states:- “The cases in northern Kenya raise suspicion that there were toxic substances brought to the surface by exploration and failure to sweep or destroy them may be causing cancer.” That is a Government report. Since that time, nothing has been done and the situation still continues. In October this year, one of the television stations did a follow up. They were there in 2014, they did a very detailed press coverage. They called it “Desert of Death” because it is all around Chalbi Desert. Initially, they had left some sick people, and when they went to follow up, they went to the same villages and were shown the graves of those people. This means that nothing happened. There was no treatment or assistance. Those people died. They also found that there were new cases. I come from Kargi Village, and I have about 150 names of those who have died as a result of that disease. There is nothing we can do. People are even thinking of evacuating from that area. However, when you do not know what is killing you, then even evacuating is a problem because the direction to evacuate is an issue. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, wish to bring to the attention of this nation that we are suffering because of something which was done and is beyond our reach. We believe that it is the Government’s responsibility to come and clear that mess. As they have proposed in their reports, they have to do screening of the surviving persons to see whether there is anybody with early stages of cancer. They have to provide early treatment at that level. There must be facilities to treat them because right now, they are dying because they cannot make it even to Nairobi for diagnosis. Biopsy is only brought to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). If you cannot make it to any health facility where samples can be taken, then you will just die there. That is what we are experiencing and unless action is taken by the national Government, because this is a national Government issue, it is not the county government which authorised or gave permission to those oil explorations. Unfortunately, there are many of them going on in this country. We do not know whether they are heading in the same direction. Urgent measures need to be taken. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, proper investigations need to be done to establish the cause of cancer and after it is established, then environmental restoration needs to be done because we believe it could be caused by whatever was brought to the surface. When an oil well goes three kilometres down, then whatever was brought to the surface 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."
}