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{
"id": 1446603,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1446603/?format=api",
"text_counter": 222,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kisang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "20 per cent to the GDP. In Kenya, we have a lot of resources. It is only that we have not taken time to explore and encourage investors to invest in this sector. As a country, in Kwale, Tana River, Taita-Taveta counties, there are so many minerals. If you go to Elgeyo-Marakwet County, my colleagues have talked about gold in Kakamega and in Migori Counties. At the level of exploitation, at the level of exploration, it is very low. I have even seen another one in Marsabit County, where there is a fight almost between the Ethiopians and the people of Marsabit on the Kenyan side, fighting over some gold exploration. We need to map out and encourage investors to come up with the equipment, so that we have industries, instead of just the local artisans exploiting these minerals. We have lost many of them because they do not have good skills. Every two weeks, three weeks, or a month, we are seeing people dying or being rescued in Migori, Kakamega or even in Vihiga County, because they do not have the skills. As a committee, we have put in an advert outside there to the public. It is unfortunate that we received some memorandums, but not enough. Most of the investors, and even the locals where we are doing these explorations did not come to the Committee to give enough information to help us. There are amendments that we are proposing. I believe in the Committee of the Whole, we will be moving amendments to ensure that the concerns raised by members are taken into account. As a committee, we are not going to compromise, especially on the employment of the locals. Kenyans have gone to school. We have graduates in almost all the fields. We have engineers, geologists and petroleum engineers. It is important that when investors come in, we ensure that they respect and employ people from the communities. We just give them maybe the key specialized employment opportunities. In Elgeyo-Marakwet County, we have a fluorspar company, where an investor was there for close to 30 years. After 30 years, the agreement lapsed and now we have, at least through the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy, a new investor who is putting in close to Kshs5 billion. In that Kshs5 billion, we have said majority of the employees should come from the community, or at least from Kenya. We do not encourage expertise from outside the country when we already have the local knowledge and skills. It is good to encourage the investors when they come to the country, that the first position that they need to give out to the communities is the head of Human Resource (HR). The head of HR will know when they are doing interviews and ensure they vet properly and employ the locals, and eventually other Kenyans. Where we do not have sufficient skills, the investor must and should transfer skills in terms of training by taking our people to our colleges or out of the country to acquire specialized skills. Madam Temporary Speaker, I know there are roles that county governments will play. There are also roles that will be played by the national Government and the local communities. We know anything that is below six feet is not yours, but belongs to the Government. I think that is why people are buried six feet under. 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 and AudioServices, Senate."
}