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{
"id": 1267698,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1267698/?format=api",
"text_counter": 180,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "technology, development of special economic zones, science parks, and infrastructure and so on. To me, there is a huge gaping hole when you say that someone must have at least 15 years of experience in finance, economics or tax. This seems to be the same genre and yet you have left out someone who has practiced Information and Communication Technology Law for the last 10, 20 or 30 years. I think we should increase the requirements to make it inclusive of law. Instead of just having finance, economics or tax, we should say finance, economics or law. That goes for all the board members as well. However, critically, when it comes to the recruitment of staff which is in the proposed Clause 18, I propose to Sen. Orwoba, the sponsor of this Bill, that this being a Senate Bill and the Senate is the place where we promote counties, let us find wording that will make sure that there is a spread in terms of staff across the nation. If we leave it the way it is, staff are most likely going to be recruited from Nairobi County and the three counties; Makueni, Machakos and so on that are within the Konza Technopolis area. People from Tana River, Turkana, Mandera, Mombasa, Vihiga and other counties should also have an opportunity to work in this Technopolis. We forget that if we do not encourage deliberate spread, then what tends to happens is Nairobi dominating in almost everything. If it is located within Machakos area, then what will happen is that most of the staff will come from Machakos besides Nairobi. Therefore, let us find wordings like it is in Cabinet, that there shall be reasonable geographical spread, gender mainstreaming and other consideration. This Bill that is coming from the Senate should have that trademark of Senate, that we are defenders of county governments. Madam Temporary Speaker, Part III of this Bill talks about regulation and licensing. It says that if someone has applied for a license, then they should be given the results within seven days. On a practical basis, I think seven days is not enough. We should increase it to 21 days in case there is any reason that the board cannot meet like for example, we have now had maandamano that have disrupted the way things would work. We could also have many other issues like natural calamities. If you say within seven days and then the seven days are not met, you will be exposing the board to legal liabilities for absolutely no reason. Therefore, I encourage that we increase this number to the normal 21 days, so that we do not expose the board to unnecessary difficulties. I am also going to mention here that there are provisions on denial of license to operate within this zone. I am looking at the proposed Clauses 31 and 32 that the board can revoke a license issued to Konza Technopolis if several other issues are raised. If investors are putting in million or billions of shillings, then we have to be very careful so that we do not create situations where people are going to be afraid to come. Let us make it difficult for a board, Cabinet Secretary (CS) or anyone else to come and say that I am revoking your license after putting up a very serious investment in Konza Technopolis. I may have invested millions of shillings, done stuff, employed and then you come and say that I am giving you a notice of non-compliance. I think this clause should be relooked. I have a proposal. There are international corporations that you are targeting in that area. Have them come for public participation of this Bill. I know for instance that The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}