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{
    "id": 794161,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/794161/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 879,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Murugara",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": "One thing I have liked about the Bill is that it says that the officers will also take care of the environment of our waters. We deserve clean coastlines, where our tourists can visit without any stigma of saying they will find the coastline dirty and, therefore, unattractive. We need a clean environment as Kenyans. When tourists, both local and international, visit those areas, they actually get the recreation which they go for. I am also happy to note that the Bill has been subjected to public participation and there were very positive comments that came from the citizens of Kenya. This is what this House has been emphasising that we must at all times put into force Article 118 of the Constitution. Every law we pass must be subjected to public participation so that the public is aware of what the House is doing. That is because these laws are for the consumption of the citizens. Inland waters need protection as much as we do to territorial waters. The case of Migingo Island in Lake Victoria cannot be over-emphasised. When it was geographically established that Migingo Island is in Kenya, we were met with such contemptuous statements like: “The Island can belong to you but the fish is ours. So what are you going to do with the island?” The reason we were told this is due to the fact that we never had security in that area. There were a few policemen who were getting overwhelmed and as a result, possibly, there was technically a takeover of a territory that belonged to our Republic. The same applies to Lake Turkana where there is a lot of fishing by fishermen from Loiyangalani, Kalokol and other areas. When they go into the deep lake to fish, they are not guaranteed of any security. I believe and I am convinced that with that coast guard, those fishermen will be protected. They will not be harmed by other forces from other countries who also share with us Lake Victoria. Eighty kilometres of territorial waters into the ocean or sea belong to us, but we have no one to guard that area. Our fish is taken away by foreigners who come and do it brazenly and wantonly; without caring what we are going to do because they say, “You do not have security.” The last two reasons I support this particular Bill is that I foresee it creating employment in our country. Possibly, young men and women will be recruited into the force. They will be trained and will earn a living. That alone is what exactly the country is gearing into: creating employment for its own citizens as we make our economy grow and as we make our security apparatus better than they are now. Unfortunately, we do not have any inland waters in Tharaka Constituency; not even in my County of Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Kitui and others. However, in the offing, we are just about to create one of the largest man-made lakes in Kenya, Africa and possibly in the world, that is, High Grand Falls Dam. Once we do this, possibly, we will have inland water which we will require to be protected because we will have tourists coming over. We will have a lot of economic activities, including fishing. The area that lake is going to cover would warrant protection from such a Board. For those reasons, I support that we pass this Bill. Let us enact it into law and bring it into operation as quickly as possible. We should be invited to forward young men and women who are going to serve in that force. I support."
}