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{
"id": 1399941,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399941/?format=api",
"text_counter": 242,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": "With those remarks, I support."
},
{
"id": 1399942,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399942/?format=api",
"text_counter": 243,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " Next is the Member for Ndhiwa, Hon. Martin Owino. Hon. Millie indicated that she is not in a hurry."
},
{
"id": 1399943,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399943/?format=api",
"text_counter": 244,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Laughter)"
},
{
"id": 1399944,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399944/?format=api",
"text_counter": 245,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
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"content": "Hon. Millie, you will speak after Hon. Martin Owino."
},
{
"id": 1399945,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399945/?format=api",
"text_counter": 246,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ndhiwa, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Martin Owino",
"speaker": null,
"content": " I heard her clearly. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Much has been said about this Bill and I just want to add my voice to it. Disaster Management is a process. It starts with prevention. I emphasise that we need to focus more on prevention to avoid getting caught unawares. We are aware that disasters like floods and fires are time bombs. Prevention, which has not been elaborated here, should include an elaborate research system to determine the kind of disasters that occur in our country and when they strike. For example, in the health realm, you will find the seasonal flu which should be well contained through flu shots before it becomes an epidemic. There is also the element of preparedness. As a people, or as the system we are trying to put in place, what do we do when it strikes? Preparedness is one way to solve a problem. For instance, when our counties are not prepared, most of the time you will find that the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) is called upon to intervene. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1399946,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399946/?format=api",
"text_counter": 247,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ndhiwa, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Martin Owino",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The NG-CDF hardly cope with a school fire or a broken bridge but if we have a structure where the national government or the county government provides support to the systems on the ground, we can easily manage disasters. There is an element of response. When disasters happen, sometimes rapid response is required. You mentioned something that caught my attention. When a disaster is classified as county yet it is beyond county boundaries, what do you do? It causes a delay in response which leads to loss of lives and even cause disabilities. I support Hon. Nyikal, that we would rather classify risks than the disasters because there is no time for classification when disaster strikes anyway."
},
{
"id": 1399947,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399947/?format=api",
"text_counter": 248,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ndhiwa, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Martin Owino",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Another element that needs to be magnified is management. After response, unfortunately there will be loss of lives and disabilities. How do you then manage the aftermath? That is always left out. For instance, if properties are destroyed, people may be displaced. Are there shelters where they can go? That should be factored in and considered by the committees. The nature, extent, severity and occurrences, all these packed together in a research portfolio, should forecast disasters and inform the country on how to proactively respond. I thank the authors of this good Bill. I do not want to say much because Hon. Millie is almost on her feet. I have made my point and therefore yield my time to her if that is in order."
},
{
"id": 1399948,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399948/?format=api",
"text_counter": 249,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
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"content": " You have also taken over the role of the Speaker. Give the microphone to the Member for Suba North, Hon. Millie Grace Odhiambo, to make her contribution."
},
{
"id": 1399949,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399949/?format=api",
"text_counter": 250,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I wish to support this Bill and thank the Committee and the Leader of the Majority Party for bringing it. At the outset, I want to indicate that having a legislative framework on Disaster Risk Management is a good thing. I am glad that he has clarified because I clearly remember that we had this Bill in the last Parliament but it lapsed. Because most Members have spoken on the issue of disaster risk management, I want to speak on some thorny issues in the Bill. I had intervened on the issue of the definition of ‘disaster’ because I did not think I would have time to speak. The word ‘local’ is limiting because a disaster can happen beyond local boundaries. It limits the response given during disasters. Based on experience and the example provided by the Leader of the Majority Party, would you classify COVID-19 as a local or national issue? Another issue of concern to me is the definition of ‘disaster risk management.’ Even though I have already proposed amendments, I encourage the Committee to amend the Bill to include a permanent structure for disaster risk management at the county governments and national government levels. They should identify and map disaster-prone or vulnerable areas, situations or people as part of management. For instance, we already know the areas that are prone to flooding in this country. However, when it happens, we are always shocked. We should also issue an early warning of imminent disaster. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and other institutions issue alerts all the time. I saw in the media today that the United States of America (USA) has already given an alert on a possible terrorist attack in Somalia. I am not sure whether it was in the Daily Nation . That is an example of disaster preparation. We should have such technology. We should also use it to relocate populations in case of imminent disasters. I visited Indonesia with the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I woke up at night. I was asleep. I thought I had overslept and forgotten to switch off my television. After a while, I discovered that it was an automated system coming through the television, warning us that there had just been an earthquake of a certain magnitude, and we should go out and do certain things at our focal point. By the time I was walking down—I think God gave me an amazing ability to sleep—I met people walking up. I had slept through the earthquake. When I reached The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1399950,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399950/?format=api",
"text_counter": 251,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona",
"speaker": null,
"content": "there, people were already in centralised places. If we have an earthquake in Kenya, how we will react will be shocking because we do not have those centralised places. In Indonesia, everybody knows that there is an earthquake. Every hotel has a centralised area. We should also have automated systems even in our hotels, not only for earthquakes but also for other things. For instance, my county, Homa Bay, is an earthquake-prone area. However, do we have such things? I know Hon. Gladys Wanga will do something about it. She has just served her first year. However, we need to put in place such things in law. The other issue that is of concern to me is the definition of ‘emergency preparedness.’ I encourage the Committee to add—as part of emergency preparedness—that we should have a policy and monitoring system in place for both the national government and county governments. We need an early warning system, continuous public education and awareness by the public on disaster risk response, including emergency telephone numbers and call centres. There should also be facilities and equipment for effective and quick response in case of disasters, including fire trucks. We should have land, water and air ambulatory services. If a disaster occurs in Mfangano Island right now, we will have a challenge because we do not have a boat ambulatory system. We raised this matter with our governor and she said she would bring it. I am not saying this in relation to Homa Bay County only, but also in relation to other areas covered with water. If there is an emergency or a disaster, how do you respond quickly? The response systems that we have are mainly private. It is hard for us to mobilise them. You might even find the ferry is in Kisumu or in another place. It is also slow. When you are dealing with disasters, you need quick responses. These are some of the issues that should be addressed. In Clause 4 of the Bill, one of the guiding principles should be protecting vulnerable groups including women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly in cases of disasters. We have not mentioned them specifically. Disaster affects different groups differently. When there are women and children, in cases of disasters, women will be prone to sexual abuse and all other kind of issues. How do we respond women’s concerns in such circumstances, where they no longer have any habitation? What about menstrual hygiene when you have disasters? I suggest that we include the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage in the National Disaster Risk Management Authority because of such issues. I know we are also trying to make it smaller. However, we need to have the Cabinet Secretary who, in most cases, also doubles up as the one in charge of young persons. I know that it is not the same now, but it will be important. On the issue of governance, there is an issue that I have been speaking to a lot in this House. However, I will re-emphasise it. There is a tendency where you find one Kenyan in two boards or serving in a government office and also in a board. There are many Kenyans who do not have anything. We should give them a chance to serve in these boards. Do we have one person who has exceptional intellectual capacities? We must also address those things. In governance, we must also look at the way we phrase the powers that we give to the Chairperson of the Board. One of them should not be to dismiss somebody for absenting himself or herself without justification. We also need to ensure that we take a zebra approach when we appoint the boards or office holders of any of the bodies. If you have a male Chair, you should have a female Vice- chair and vice-versa. I have written a few of the issues. I will not mention all of them. I just want to complete by saying one of the things that I have told you before. I sponsored the Victim Protection Act. One of the sections in the Act is the mass victimisation arising from a crime. For instance, there is the issue of terrorism. When we have terrorist attacks, how do we respond as a country? Every single person walks in there to respond, but not the officers. Secondly, in their response, we do not preserve the evidence and look at the victim. We do not preserve the dress that the person is wearing for purposes of identification or any other identifying features, like what we see in many of the programmes in the USA or other areas. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}
]
}