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{
    "id": 981510,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/981510/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 320,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Isiolo North, KPP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Hassan Hulufo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13348,
        "legal_name": "Hassan Oda Hulufo",
        "slug": "hassan-oda-hulufo-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to speak to this Motion. Invasion of desert locusts was predicted last year by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Unfortunately, we did not take action in time. It was predicted that because of enhanced rainfall, we were likely to have invasion of desert locusts. The prediction was that they were to migrate to our country from Ethiopia and Somalia. It has been ravaging the rangeland of northern Kenya for the last two months. Unfortunately, it only attracted serious attention after it got closer to agro pastoral parts of this country. I think this has to be stated. In its migratory pattern, it follows the wind. It is the direction of the wind which determines the direction in which the locusts are going to move next. Effective control of the locusts requires a regional approach. If our Government confines its effort of controlling the pests to our country, within our borders only, then we may not be effective in terms of getting rid of the locusts. The swarms which have come into our country have left their eggs which are hatching in Somalia and part of Ethiopia. That is why our Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, which is the lead agency with the support of the Desert Locust Control Organisation, has had to seriously think of how the three Governments of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya can work together to come up with control measures like the spraying of leaves in Ethiopia. If need be, our Government should support the Government of Somalia with technical inputs including pesticides to spray the areas where the locusts have laid eggs. If you look at what has happened in northern Kenya, it is estimated that almost close to a million acres of rangeland have been devastated. In the agro pastoral areas, the locusts have invaded parts of Meru County, Laikipia County where our Temporary Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mariru, comes from, parts of Ukambani, Makueni and parts of Kajiado. They have also been spotted in Tanzania and have moved into the Karamoja region of Uganda. If the wind continues to blow in that direction, there is no doubt the desert locusts will get to South Sudan. These counties enjoy rain throughout the year and the insects like green plants according to what the Mover has said. We may have serious problems in terms of getting rid of them. Already, looking at what has happened in our country in terms of the acres of pasture which have been destroyed, already in Tharaka Nithi, parts of Makueni and Laikipia are likely to have serious food insecurity. I would like to support what the Mover has said that our Government needs to seriously come up with a strategy - a regional strategy as I have said - so that we can have effective control of the locusts. Another worrying thing is the fact that we are now using pesticides which are harmful to human beings as well as livestock. It can get to our bodies through food. We also need to think about possibilities of biological controls. They are there and well documented. If The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}