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{
    "id": 774091,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/774091/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Where I come from, people cannot develop. When they do, the rains come and wash away everything. This is something that is known, some people take it as a joke, but it is not. It is unfortunate that it happens. As I support this Bill, I plead with Members to pass it and it be implemented. Implementation is our biggest weakness. We must not just debate and pass Bills, but we must also implement them. That will help our irrigation and land cover. At this point in time we should be doing more by planting trees along the rivers. We need to put that structure in place so that we can help in covering the surface. By doing so, it will be easy for us to develop agriculture. Most of our young people are moving to towns with the hope of getting jobs. There is a lot of joblessness in our country. If agriculture can be developed, there will be no need for our young people to look for white collar jobs. They will be able to make use of the structures in place to make money. They will not only do agriculture, but to move forward and do processing to add value to agricultural products. We have structures in the rice industry that are not properly maintained. Therefore, apart from putting irrigation in place, it is also important that we educate our people on how to take care of the irrigation channels. It should not be done only once. Water distribution is not only about irrigation. In Kenya, water distribution is generally a big problem. In Nairobi, there is water shortage. This is the same case with most of our towns. So, I believe if we concentrate in doing a lot of work in irrigation we should also take care of the domestic water which is lacking. Nairobi is growing, but water is not being developed. On dams, we should increase the number so that we do not have the same dam being used for watering animals, for agriculture and for domestic use. This will ensure we have sufficient water to take care of our daily needs. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support this Bill. It is a critical one. It is important that we put whatever it takes in place to help this country move forward. Let us give our people what they need so that we live in a humane way. Without water in dry areas, it is a disaster. If you go to Turkana, West Pokot and Baringo, when we have drought for only a month, everybody is in trouble because of lack of water. We do not want to do irrigation projects that will be another source of siphoning Government money. The Galana Kulalu Irrigation Project cost a lot of money but has not helped the people. I do not know what went wrong. The management was not good. I do not want to imagine 10,000 acres of land being put under irrigation and when it came to harvesting there was nothing that could be explained as there was no harvest. So, those are some of the things that must be put in place and accountability is part and parcel of our life. With that, I thank you."
}