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{
    "id": 93283,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/93283/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 184,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to begin by commending the Ministry for providing this critical service to Kenyans. But now that we have passed the new Constitution, distribution of resources will have to be equitable by law. Equitable does not mean that it has to be the same everywhere. Places with special needs will have to be considered but the total outlook must be that each area must get their share of the resources. I want to urge the Minister to direct her eyes on the issue of governance of the water organizations and the regulator in particular. There is no reason why, if the regulator is doing his work, we should have coups and counter-coups such as we saw after hiring the management in Nairobi and other places. That means the Minister needs to tighten governance. We also experienced cholera. We are aware there was a lot of rain but during this stage of the reforms, we should not be having cholera. The issue is the water vendors. Is there a mechanism for the Minister to license water vendors to ascertain that they have clean sources of water and that they are not stealing water and then selling it to the people, and that they are not using exhausters to vend water to people? This particular cholera in Nairobi was traced to the use of exhausters to deliver water for drinking. So, again, that suggests an issue of governance. Whereas the Minister and her top people may be very keen on implement reforms, she must know that there are always people within who are intent on having shortcuts. We want her to reign in on them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other issue is that of tariffs. We have seen a rapid increase in tariffs countrywide. In all those increases, the consumers are not consulted. I know that because in the case of my area, Githana Water Service Board, we were not consulted as the consumers from the ground. There ought to be adequate consultations. I am glad that when I talked to the Minister, she promised to look into the issue but the key issue in the water sector reforms is access and affordability. The Minister should make sure that water is not beyond the reach of the average person. Also, tariffs have been hiked on water which is being used for irrigation. A small irrigation scheme which is managed by women in my constituency was being asked to pay Kshs1 million. They have never heard of Kshs1million leave alone touch it. These are women who are trying to make livelihoods for their houses. So something needs to be done about how tariffs are set. The whole idea is to distribute the burden to a majority so that it is light. The Minister should direct her eyes on the issue of tariffs so that we can move together in water sector reforms. I urge her and the Government, but the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in particular because now we are discussing water, to make sure that those who hold positions in the board are people of integrity. The Constitution demands it. Chapter 6 is operational immediately. So let us have people of integrity and not people who are suspected of offences or who are having pending cases so that the governance can be pushed up. This is a Ministry that deserves our support, because water is critical not just for our lives but also for the industry and everything else happening in the nation. I beg to support."
}