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{
    "id": 719347,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/719347/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I stand to support the Motion brought by Hon. Ochieng and say if we want to fight hunger in this country, I would propose we invest a lot of money in food security. I am aware of a lot of money that was sent to the National Irrigation Board to revive irrigation projects in this country. By doing that, the Government was envisaging that we shall mitigate against hunger and starvation. Therefore, I propose that the Government hastens those projects. We have one in the Coast region where it has been envisaged that one million acres of land is going to be irrigated. That is a very good idea now that I strongly believe that the only way we can be food secure is to enlarge what we call large scale farming of our staple foods. I also know that the Government has devolved a lot of money and it is incumbent upon the county governments to use part of the money devolved to them to mitigate hunger. Let us not blame the national Government for each and every ill that is happening in this country. We have elected 47 governors. They have the duty of giving part of what they have been given by the national Government and also part of what they collect from the taxpayers through levies and charges to the poor people to mitigate these instances of food insecurity. I also urge various Members of Parliament and governors to employ the money that they manage to drill boreholes. Drilling boreholes is one way of checking or mitigating negative climate changes or conditions. For those counties or even Members who have sunk boreholes, they have somehow mitigated hunger and starvation. I do not know who I should condemn, but I have to mention the Chairperson of the Committee on Constituencies Development Fund. There is Kshs10 billion that was allocated. The reason why I am talking about the Kshs10 billion that was blocked is because in my constituency, I had allocated some money to 10 schools to drill boreholes. My idea was to sink those boreholes, particularly at Gaturi Ward. Those boreholes could have helped to mitigate lack of water in various parts of Kiharu. Now that I am hearing that this money is about to be brought through the Supplementary Budget, I urge the House Business Committee (HBC) to hasten that process. If those projects, which are very dear to me like sinking of boreholes were to happen, I know I would have done my little bit towards alleviating hunger in my region and also the issue of water scarcity. I come from Murang’a County which is quite famous through exportation of water to residents of Nairobi, but we still suffer from chronic lack of water. Therefore, this Kshs10 billion would have been quite important towards ensuring that before I leave my parliamentary seat, my constituency overcomes water scarcity. That was my dream. I did my part through supply of water pipes to various regions through the CDF, but I thought the Kshs10 billion would enable Kiharu to get about Kshs34 million which would have been used to address the issue of water scarcity in my constituency. Therefore, I urge the HBC which is in charge of preparing the calendar of this House to hasten the tabling of the Supplementary Budget. In fact, the other day I was wondering how I would bring to the attention of the leadership of this House how we, the Members, are feeling about lack of this money. I was thinking that I could grab the Mace, so that the House can come to a standstill and know that we are really suffering for lack of that money. We really want to use that money to alleviate hunger in our regions. With those few remarks, I support the Motion for Adjournment. 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."
}