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"id": 1350231,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1350231/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Navakholo, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe",
"speaker": null,
"content": "more resources from the lottery shall be a good thing so that we can let people who are physically challenged, mentally affected and the aged get a share of the resources from this Fund. The second issue that also caught my attention is the ability to facilitate the protection and rehabilitation of the vulnerable and problem gambler. Gambling is addictive. A person does not get into it today and expect to come out of it. It is like a chain smoker who cannot easily leave cigarette or the cigar. How do we cure a person who we have directly invited into addiction? Whereas this is a legal business, we have provided that those who will be addicted to this game shall be taken care of. There is a reason to smile because we have allowed gambling to be done wisely, but in case one of us goes astray, he can be protected. The Fund shall be regulated properly and the CEO will be the accounting officer. The Bill proposes the establishment of a board. Two key issues that have caught my attention are, first, the chairperson of the board shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Kenya. The qualifications of the CEO have been given. The CEO shall also be the executive officer of the organisation. This means that we will have the role of the chairperson and that of the CEO. The qualifications of the CEO are laid down in the Bill. When you look at the separation of the two, it means there is organisation on the assignment and purpose of each. This is a good thing that we all have to support. The issue of licensing the lottery operator is something that has caught my attention. He will not take a monopolistic approach of having one person to operate the lottery. It is open and will allow multiple coordinated operators. The Government is, therefore, going to license a national lottery operator whose license shall be valid for seven years. This means that an investor in this venture shall have time to make a return on investment and recoup it. This will enable him stay with us for a longer time rather than coming in today and exiting tomorrow. That is a good thing. That is unlike a case where we invite investors and give them three years to invest yet we may not know how long they will take to make return on their investment and recoup their capital. It is, therefore, good the Bill proposes seven years which gives an investor latitude to recoup his resources. The role of the cabinet secretary in this Bill is well taken care of. Whereas there is provision of the board recognising the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, the role of the sitting cabinet secretary in charge of the daily operations of the lotteries at the time is well taken care of. I, therefore, consider this Bill very responsive. I urge my colleagues to join hands and support it having been brought into this House three times. Last time it lapsed at the end of the 12th Parliament. Let us approve it this time. After all, our children in the society live within the lottery systems. They are already doing it. Instead of hiding, running around with money and not being sincere about true lottery, let it be legalised. The youth should play openly without hiding where they are getting the money from. The Bill does not propose cautionary measures to those who would want to go beyond what has been provided. When it comes to the Committee of the whole House, I will enrich it by making sure that stringent measures are put in place so that operators live within the provisions of the law. I support the Bill. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}