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{
    "id": 798280,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/798280/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Government is answerable on issues of security to the whole nation. Even if it cannot be done holistically, I think some level of security function should be at the county level, so that there is some control within the county governments. If it is left to be a national function and the county governments have got nothing to do with security, that is a gap that the Government should see and do something about. Another issue I have about the President’s speech is the fact that he never mentioned anything about the perennial droughts and floods. Right now everybody will tell that flooding is a natural occurrence and there is nothing that the Government can do. It is true that rainfall is a natural occurrence and its magnitude cannot be controlled. However, the Government should be in a position to mitigate it. For example, there are several areas of this nation from north eastern, coastal region, rift valley and the whole of nyanza where there is a lot of suffering by our people. I believe that the Government should control the floods. Budalang’i floods were controlled and it is no longer an issue. What happens to the other areas like Tana River? If you see what is happening in Tana River, you will wonder whether we are in Kenya. You live in a maisonette when other people are suffering in the middle of nowhere because of being affected by floods. The issue of floods must be taken seriously by the national Government. I come from Nyando in Kisumu County. People of Nyando have been suffering ever since I was a young girl. The issue of floods has been a problem. Up to now, 50 years since Independence, the Government is doing totally nothing as far as I am concerned on issues of flooding. River Nyando should be totally controlled. There was a proposal to construct Soin-Koru Dam. Whatever politics going on, it is important that that dam is put in place to stop our people from suffering. If the dam is there, the water downstream will be controlled and the moment it is controlled, we will have water the whole year. When there was drought in January and February, it was dry to the point that there were no vegetables in many parts of this nation. I do not know how difficult it is for a government to plan for floods and drought. These two have to be tackled seriously. It is unfortunate that we get the same answers. When it rains, you can take some maize to your people and give them one gorogoro each. What will that do to a family of seven, eight or nine people? We are not solving the problem by distributing food to our people. We have water and land and all we need is planning and infrastructure. The Government should go out of its way. It does not matter which people are suffering because we are all Kenyans and we should be taken care of. The issue of flooding is unfortunate because it comes with a lot of suffering. If it is not floods, then it is drought. I believe we can have water pans in the rural areas. Since 2013, I have been going to the Ministry to ask for water pans but I have never seen anybody go to Kisumu County to construct water pans. Water pans are very important for they are going to help us get vegetables and food for the animals as well as mitigate the floods. The issue of the floods is a matter of life and death and the Government should apportion part of the budget for us to control the floods once and for all. It is unfortunate that our people are suffering. There are diseases that come with floods such as malaria. You can give people nets today but how many people can you give nets? Is it possible to give nets to over 40 million Kenyans? How will that help? 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."
}