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{
    "id": 798620,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/798620/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 191,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Mahamud",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 373,
        "legal_name": "Mohammed Maalim Mahamud",
        "slug": "mohammed-mahamud"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I also join the other Members in condoling with the people of Nakuru County for the disaster that befell them. The tragedy that has occurred there is a first of its type in terms of dam failure in this country. I know that because I worked in the water sector for 20 years as a water engineer. I know how the Ministry of Water, Environment and Natural Resources is structured. First of all, Kenya Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has no capacity to design and check dams. Its purpose is to allocate water resources in terms of the amounts of water that it allows an individual to take from rivers and streams. In fact, in terms of design, I think there is a big lacuna because all these activities are happening; where everybody is making his own dam. It is like the way we are building houses in Kenya with no control. People are engaged in various activities without regard to the danger they are posing to Kenyans. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in designing dams, there is dam break analysis. If you design a dam, you must clearly state what will happen if it breaks. I took part in the design of Ndakaini Dam. If it breaks today, Thika Town and all the towns before it would be under water and washed away. It is that serious. That is why when designing a dam, one must be able to make sure that the design is proper and forestalls all the danger. We also need to do proper inspection. This is a wake-up call. Whereas the people of Nakuru must be compensated, we as a country must now come up with a proper framework to see that our dams, even the existing ones, are safe. 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."
}