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{
    "id": 1218450,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1218450/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murgor",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to also give my thoughts in addition to what my colleagues have said. Natural resources are very important in every area and to the communities living in those areas. However, the people whose land have those deposits have been taken advantage of, mostly because of lack of policy that is clear and protective and ensures that these natural resources benefit the local communities. There needs to be a clear policy from both the National Government and the county governments, so that there is a clear-cut policy about the resources that are found in those areas. The second thing that I think should happen is also something that my colleague shared; that there needs to be prior mapping to know where exactly these resources are located in every part of Kenya, for example, gold. People get surprises with particles of gold floating here and there without there being any policy or mapping out by the national Government and probably, inherited in one way or the other by the county government. The county government may be new and not have the capacity to really map out what is in their area. Therefore, mapping out helps to be known nationally and even as markets for investment are looked for. It should be clear what resource is in that area and what kind of an investor is required. Mapping should guide clearly as to what is there. On investment, every county and the national Government should look for investors. It is important to know what kind of investors they are and where they are going to. This is because there is prior and handy knowledge that exists within systems in the Government, in order for the investor to be guided and directed according to their interests. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, some concerns have been shared about advantage taking. When there is no clear policy or guidance on the right of locals and the different levels of government, the investor takes advantage because they are not aware. For example, if an investor comes to my community, the Pokots do not know how much deposits of gold or any other mineral is on their land. Therefore, an investor will come and probably invest because of the knowledge they possess, that the community is not adequately knowledgeable about the deposits and so on. Such an investor will take advantage of that community. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I will give the example of Simba Cement, which is now putting up a factory in West Pokot. However, I have not seen any sign of schools or hospitals built around it. There are also no roads built in that area because those were the concerns and priorities of the locals with an investor that was probably not subjected to public awareness and participation."
}