Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 767230,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/767230/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 220,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "What happened in these areas? By now, we should be discussing about mega plans of major dams being built in order to conserve water. There is also the underground water in the aquifer. Like now we know that in Turkana County, there are resources of aquifer water that will still serve the whole country even if we used them for the next 20 or 50 years. What have we done about it? We have many rivers which supply 60 per cent of the water going to Lake Victoria. But when we wanted to harness the waters of Lake Victoria to bring it to Mau Hill for irrigation, the Egyptian Government said that it will go to war if we did that. But then we have ways of doing it at source without interfering with the lake. That is why you see many officers in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation here in Kenya always measuring the water levels in Lake Victoria. It is sad to note that 60 per cent of the water of the lake is generated from Kenya, yet we do not have access to that resource of water, which is a very critical resource for human survival. That is why we have these conflicts and wars. Madam Temporary Speaker, what is happening in Laikipia is an expression of the need for pasture and nothing else. Therefore, as a country and as a nation, we now need to accept the reality of the situation; that what is hurting us most is that we have not managed our water resources properly. It is high time that we put measures into place which will mitigate the effects of drought in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), where Amb. (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim, the Executive Secretary, is a Kenyan from Wajir---. There are resources that are being enveloped around IGAD from the so called partners in the developing nations and we have not tapped into this. So, even if we wanted to look for resources, they will be forthcoming for the bad and poor practices of the north. The carbon credits ought to be going to these regions so that we can resuscitate our environment and bring it back to normalcy. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources should also contribute towards the enrichment of our water resources in this country because the habit of not planting trees has dealt us a big blow. Therefore, I speak with full knowledge knowing what water scarcity can do; it can lead a country into war. We have already seen communities going to war because of water and pasture. If we sit pretty tight as we are seated, thinking that things are going to be okay, we will have a revolution on our hands. We will see people rising up against the government and everybody else, saying “enough is enough; we cannot continue in this manner.” When others are having selective development, others are being denied that critical element that will enable them to be equal to others in consonance to what the Constitution is. When we were in Nairobi Serena, Agenda Four was indeed important. That is why immediately after the Grand Coalition Government was formed, in which you and I served, Madam Temporary Speaker, we established Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Regions. This was because we realized that the conflicts that we were having, including even the election conflicts, were as a result of the unequal distribution of wealth and resources. That is why the Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Regions was established and put under the able leadership of Hon. Mohamed Elmi. It is amazing that immediately the Grand Coalition exited in 2013, this ministry was disbanded or it was rather mutilated and 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."
}