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{
    "id": 788078,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/788078/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 114,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Josphat Wachira",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13441,
        "legal_name": "Josphat Kabinga Wachira",
        "slug": "josphat-kabinga-wachira-2"
    },
    "content": "committee will stand in between the water users associations and NIDA, so that when the water users associations collect money, it will be passed to this committee. The committee is to be comprised of the farmers as well as representatives of the National Irrigation Board. They will look at what has been collected, sit down and decide some of the infrastructure that needs to be improved in those schemes. This will improve the relationship between farmers and NIDA and thereby realise some of the success we want from those schemes. Another very important area is on dispute resolution. From our experience in Mwea, we know that there are a number of disputes in our schemes such that, if we called on everyone around Thiba Dam who has a dispute in one way or the other, they will not even fit in this Chamber. Therefore, through our associations, we proposed that a dispute resolution committee be established as opposed to the current tribunal that is made up of appointees from the National Irrigation Board, so that it can have powers to interrogate and look at the cases that are presented to them and, if they are not able to resolve, then the complainants can go to the environmental and land tribunal. This is very important because it will improve the relationship between the farmers and the irrigation board. I want to bring to the attention of this House that our Government is putting in all the efforts in ensuring that we have successful irrigation schemes in the country by allocating a lot of money. I want to thank the Jubilee Government for its effort to bring up what we refer to as Thiba Dam, a dam that will cost this country about Kshs19 billion. The intention is to ensure that we have a greater output of food in this country and to get ourselves from the shame of having to be given food from outside. It is unfortunate that, sometimes, when we invest a lot of money into some of those schemes, we will still have other underlying factors that prevent and hinder our farmers from doing their best. For example, the importation of rice causes our farmers a lot of damage. When rice is imported, our farmers are not able to make enough returns from their output and this discourages them and gets us in a situation where we do not get enough from our investments. I am saying this because I know there will be many new schemes that will be coming up. The Committee may want to even visit Mwea as one of the oldest and largest schemes which was established in the 1950s, and see how our farmers suffer. As you walk along Mwea, you will notice how green it is. You will think there are riches among our farmers, but I want to tell this House that most of our farmers are as poor as anyone who does not own a farm in this country. This is due to denying our farmers support. Our farmers do not have any instrument that would enable them to officially walk into a bank and get loans like any other Kenyans. They rely on shylocks and individuals, majority of who live in Nairobi. After harvesting, they put their entire product into lorries to be brought to the owners in Nairobi and the farmers remain as poor as they were before. It is my humble prayer to this Committee to look at some of those schemes and ensure that those farmers either get title deeds or any other instrument that would enable them access loans from banks like any other Kenyan. I am aware that when those schemes come up, many things are required. For example, Thiba Dam will be successful if we complete compensation of farmers so that we do not have hindrances, as my brother from Tharaka has mentioned. We know that Jubilee Government has put in a lot of effort. I want to thank the Government because recently, it made Kshs200 million available for compensation of farmers. This will leave us with a balance of about Kshs400 million so that Thiba Dam can continue without any hindrance. It is my humble prayer that soon, when we bring the second Supplementary Budget, that money will be included so that we do not have problems. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}