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{
    "id": 792051,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/792051/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Kibeh",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13339,
        "legal_name": "Annie Wanjiku Kibeh",
        "slug": "annie-wanjiku-kibeh"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to go on record to support this very important Motion on collection and storage of water systems. I join my colleagues in wishing that this Motion will be acted upon. The Motion is quite timely, bearing in mind that we are currently experiencing a lot of rains. Interestingly, I happened to be in my village on Monday and one elderly man informed me that the last time we experienced such kind of rainfall in this country was in 1991. Of course, we have been experiencing a lot of changes in weather. We are not very sure when else we will experience this kind of rainfall. It is imperative to ensure that we are able to harvest the rain water we are getting. Of course, when we get rains in the rural areas, we know very well that it is very easy for it to be absorbed in the ground. We also get transpiration happening through the crops, but when we come to the urban areas, as the Motion is proposing, we get a lot of disruption of traffic because we get a lot of rain water running off. We get erosion of urban services and structures and a lot of flooding. For that reason, it is very important that as a country and as a Government, we come up with a system to put in place storm water drainage. I know that the issue of storm water drainage is vested in the counties, but, of course, the national Government also has a role to play. I think it is also a requirement in all urban development plans to ensure that a proper water management system is in place. In many instances, we get the rain water mixing with sewer water and as we develop this kind of water system, it is important to ensure that we have a proper system so that we do not get contaminated water. Like my colleagues have said, this water can go into various uses. We know a lot of water is used to beautify this city of Nairobi and to water flowers. Water harvested through these systems can be used for such purposes as well as cleaning up the cities. I was privileged to visit Israel sometimes back. I was really mesmerised by what they do there. We know very well Israel is a very dry country, but they have a very good system where they ensure that they recycle sewer water and use it for domestic use. At the same time, they have a system to ensure that after the sewer water is cleaned it is given to farmers who use it for farming. We have been endowed with a good environment and rainfall in this country. It is unfortunate that we are not making use of the water that God has given us. I support this Motion and once again request the Committee on Implementation to follow it up to ensure it is implemented to the letter. Thank you very much."
}