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{
    "id": 981513,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/981513/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 323,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Isiolo CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Rehema Jaldesa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 601,
        "legal_name": "Rehema Dida Jaldesa",
        "slug": "rehema-dida-jaldesa"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. Isiolo was among the worst hit counties by locust invasion. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, for the intervention. I must admit that for three to four days, a plane was in Isiolo spraying the affected areas. However, it was a very anxious moment for the people of Isiolo when we first saw an army of locusts. I want to take this opportunity to thank the youth and the women of Isiolo County for taking it upon themselves to mobilise all motor vehicles, drums and avenues of making noise to scare the locusts away. I urge my colleagues from Migori and other areas to go to Isiolo for benchmarking. We really took it upon ourselves to ensure that everybody was out prepared with noise and that actually worked. I am worried with the report that we are likely to get the worst invasion in July. I, therefore, urge the Government to be more prepared than it was this time. I also came across a finding by the FAO, which says that a large desert locust can contain up to 150 million individuals per square kilometre. With half a million locusts weighing a tonne, they can eat as much food in one day as about 10 elephants. You can imagine an elephant that eats both day and night without resting and that equals to about 25 camels. Those of us who rear camels can tell you that one camel can eat a whole rangeland similar to about 2,500 persons and not the normal ones, but those who eat big Ugali. Therefore, we are in for a very difficult time. The insects are reported to destroy about 200 tonnes of vegetation per day. The Mover has clearly told us that the locusts are after the green vegetation. Therefore, my worry is that it is the first time northern Kenya witnesses God’s blessing of having adequate rain, but now my worry is that all the pastures will be eaten by the locusts. When the pastures are eaten away, it then becomes a catalyst for cattle rustling and intertribal fights."
}