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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Constitution is very clear on crop and animal husbandry, county public works, storm water management, implementation of policies on natural resources and environmental conservation. This Bill speaks to those issues and the provision of water. As we transit from the National Irrigation Board (NIB) to a National Irrigation Development Authority (NIDA), the Mover has not mentioned--- One wonders what the problem with the NIB is. The only thing we know is that the NIB has been dogged with scandals about irrigation projects that have not worked. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we pass a new Bill, it is like what is referred in the Bible as “putting new wine in old wine skin;” the question of corruption in the irrigation sector must be addressed. Clause 15(1) struck me as a Clause that I must mention. It states that- “The Cabinet Secretary shall, subject to water and other resource constraints, and in consultation with county governments and other stakeholders ensure the adequacy and quality of water for irrigation purposes throughout the country.” This Clause is important for purposes of irrigation. However, even with the current crisis on the side of the Majority on the question of preservation of the Mau Forest, if we do not conserve our resources, the irrigation component that is contemplated under Clause 15 will be defeated. Therefore, I am extremely disappointed that the conservation of the Mau Forest has turned into a political circus. We have forgotten that Mau Forest is about water. If we are to deal with irrigation and if the Cabinet Secretary is to find water, we must deal with the conservation of our forests. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the recent conditional grant for the preservation of water towers excluded a water tower like the Mau Forest, which provides the sort of water that we are talking about in Clause 15. If the Government is serious about irrigation and the provision of water, as it is signing conditional grants for preservation of our natural resources, including water services, they must consult so that the water towers like the Mau Forest, Cherengani and Chyulu Hills are not ignored. Otherwise, irrigation services will suffer because of that problem. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also propose that as we consider the powers of the Cabinet Secretary under Clause 34 on management of national and public irrigation schemes, there must be adequate provision for county governments to manage these water sources. While we were dealing with the Solai Dam tragedy, we asked the governor of Nakuru whether he had any role or whether he had conducted any independent assessment on the cause of the tragedy. To our surprise, the said governor said that the question of dams is not a province of county governments and that is it is a matter of the national Government. Therefore, while the Deputy Majority Leader, who is the Mover of this Bill, has proposed that this function be run in consultation with county governments; we need to educate the governors that this is their role. This is because one governor was before the Senate and he abdicated his responsibility by saying that dams are not a province of counties. If water is a province of the counties, dams are questions of counties. Therefore, irrigation is a matter that we must deal with seriously. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it surprises me, and the Mover should have mentioned it, that over Kshs5 billion from the last three budgets has been wasted, misappropriated or misapplied to irrigation alone. We must condemn some of these actions because this Bill will solve some of these problems. There is no reason why we hire land to provide food 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."
}