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{
    "id": 742484,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/742484/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 311,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "I appreciate that some money has been targeted for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL). Again this is going to the food security and that is commendable. But again, ASAL areas are not new. This is something we have been talking about and we should look at it. I do appreciate that some money has been put for power transmission. It is important that as a country we have done a lot for rural electrification. There is large consumption of power. To put money there is appropriate but I notice that in western Kenya and Siaya area, there are a lot of power outages. You cannot go for two days without power outage. I think this should be looked at. We should look at the issue of transmission. I have been given information that sometimes it is threatening because there is a deficit of transmission capacity between Naivasha and parts of western Kenya. What we are seeing as outage is actually rationing. We should know, and the matter should be addressed. Rationing cannot be a problem of transmission deficit. I do appreciate that money has been put there. We have some money that has been put in water. The issue we have to look at here again is that water is a devolved function, to a large extent. If you have a lot of money that is going to the national Government for water, we really have to know how that links with the distribution of water that is a function of the county governments. If large resources are being identified and developed at national level, how does that go down to the counties? That is where we need to know. I am always concerned that if you have these large monies at the national level and for a devolved function; one of the problems is that there may be no equity. We really do not follow that as much as we follow what will go to the counties. We have noticed that Kshs2.3 billion has been put for equipment at the technical institutes that are being put up. This is commendable. It would be sad if we had these institutions put up and then they stay there as white elephants. Many are coming up and we should all equip them. They have acute shortage of mid-level technical people. I am happy to realise that some money has been put to Kenyatta University Referral Hospital. This is a project that was started in 2004/2005, and if it is coming to fruition that will be extremely important. But as we do this, the issue of health workers should be solved. The nurses are on strike with regard to the CBA that was agreed on not many months ago and has not been implemented. Doctors have once again threatened to go on strike. It is not right that we get into agreements which we do not implement. Health is not like other areas where you 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."
}