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{
    "id": 976661,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/976661/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 95,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndwiga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 278,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njeru Ndwiga",
        "slug": "peter-ndwiga"
    },
    "content": "The Committee met with the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday 27th February, 2020, where he admitted that the initial response to the invasion was indeed slow. He, however, assured the Committee that the Ministry was up to the task and briefed Senators on the Government’s efforts to control and contain the locust threat in the country as follows- (1) That five aircrafts were spraying and four surveillance aircrafts have been deployed and have over the last one and a half months undertaken aerial control of several locust swarms in the affected regions; (2) That a total of 28,000 litres of control pesticides have been procured and distributed for use in the affected areas; (3) That control equipment has been distributed to the affected counties, including three Kenya Army Land Rovers for ground control, three vehicles mount and sprayers used by the army Land Rovers, 34 motorized sprayers, 70 handheld ultra low volume applicators, and 250 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); (4) That a team of experts has been deployed to the affected areas to train and mobilize the county extension teams to support the locusts control efforts; (5) That a total of 240 extension officers from the affected counties have so far been trained in 21 counties and 500 National Youth Service (NYS) men have been identified and mobilized for training in locust ground control. (6) That a locust disaster coordination centre supported by a team of locust management and communication experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been established at Kilimo House to provide day-to-day information on the measures the Government is undertaking to eradicate the desert locusts. (7)That, six control bases have been set up in all affected regions, that is Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, Masinga, Garissa and Lodwar. (8)That, the Ministry has deployed a team of experts to carry out an impact assessment of the devastation caused by the locusts. The report of this assessment shall be used to restitute affected farmers. (9) That, the Ministry is launching a public campaign to sensitize the public on the handling of the locusts. In addition to the above mentioned efforts, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) informed the meeting that there are plans to increase the number of spray aircrafts to 20 with the support and collaboration of development partners including Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). That is, 10 for spraying and 10 for surveillance. Also, there are plans to acquire and deploy 20 vehicles equipped with suitable sprayes for ground control and mainly the hatching hoppers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to establish the extent of damage by the locust invasion and the measures taken to mitigate the effects of the invasion, the Committee undertook a county visit to Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Samburu counties on Friday, 28th February, 2020. The Committee observed that the level of devastation in the counties was a grave concern and a serious threat to the food security of the nation. Noting that as result of the recent floods experienced in the various parts of the country and the current locust invasion, a looming famine is a reality. Whereas there has been some success in the control of the locusts by the county governments with the help of the national The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}