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{
    "id": 820489,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/820489/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 203,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I learnt through this Committee that we have two authorities in that space on water. There is the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and another animal called Water Harvesting Authority (WHA). I do not know what they do and whether it is an authority where, for you to work there, you have to be a rain maker.The Committee also did not seem to tell us exactly what they do. There seems to be a proliferation of authorities with mandates that are unclear and zero visibility. I would like this WHA, if they are following these deliberations, to find a way of engaging this Senate so that the Senate can understand what they do and support them. Otherwise, we will be calling for their disbandment. Finally, I thank this Committee for working very hard under a hostile climate. The Members of the Committee who spoke told us that they faced intimidation and got threatening calls. However, they decided to soldier on. Even though some Members have gone on record questioning why not everyone signed, I do not think that is a problem. As long as a report has been signed by a majority of the Members of the Committee, we should not draw adverse conclusions about the others. That is the issue that I would like to beg Members of the Senate; not to come to adverse conclusions. Madam Temporary Speaker, this Committee worked collectively and five out of nine signed and the Report is before the House. That is proper. We should not question where the others were because they are bound by the collective decision of the Committee. If anyone disputed what the Committee said, they ought to bring a minority opinion. Until someone brings a minority opinion, we will say that all the nine Members of the Committee did a good job. Madam Temporary Speaker, we must call it out and deal with the trend of threats and intimidation to committees working on behalf of the Senate. I chair the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) of this House. I am doing a job on behalf of this House. In every twist and turn of inquiry, people call to threaten and intimidate us and others call to compromise us. There is an inquiry that we will soon be tabling before the House, where we were investigating crooks and thieves who go to schools and try to find ways of stealing land belonging to schools. Schools should be hallowed grounds. They should be grounds where you can step without shoes, just the way Moses was told to step on some ground without shoes. You cannot go to a school to steal land. If you were to do that, the hottest corner of hell is definitely going to be reserved for you. When we do an inquiry on behalf of this House, I receive calls. I want to go on record that I have been called and threatened. Strange people have appeared at my gate. If it were not for the vigilance of my watchman, probably you could be talking about the same story of Ojode, Saitoti, Mutula Kilonzo, Kajwang, Boy Juma Boy, Ouko and J.M. Kariuki. Many others have come before me and have disappeared funnily. I am not afraid of going down that route. However, I must say that I fear none but God Himself because he is the one who has put me in this position of responsibility. He is the one who gives me the breath to come and do the job that the people of Homa Bay voted me to do. So, for those who are fond of calling Senators and Members of this House, threatening, intimidating, appearing at their door steps, tapping their telephone conversations and 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."
}