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{
    "id": 1446608,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1446608/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Thangw’a",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, in this country, who has the capacity to drill oil? If you say that you are not inviting investors who have state-of-the-art equipment, oil and mineral detectors, we might end up having gold that is down the ground that is not helping the community. As we look into this Bill, let us look at everything that is restrictive, so that we can help our people partner with foreign investors and bring this kind of mining business to this country. Nevertheless, the Bill is looking to promote local participation and value addition because not so many people know and understand what mining is. A couple of days ago, it was reported all over that there was a red alert in Kiambu County when a trailer overturned and people stole some drums containing sodium cyanide. Whoever took that stuff had no idea what that thing is because we have not been trained or educated on what involves mining. When you promote local participation, we will be able to train people and make sure that they understand the resources that are under the earth, so that when we partner with those people who will be bringing that kind of investment, they will be involved. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Bill also establishes a Local Content Development Committee. The chairman of this development committee will be appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy. As we speak, we do not have any cabinet secretary at the moment; we only have an Acting Cabinet Secretary, who is hon. Musalia Mudavadi. I believe the nominees will be thoroughly vetted for people to know whether they understand the job ahead of them. I was looking at the Constitution to see why the Senate does not vet Cabinet Secretaries. I found it is true that the Constitution says they should be vetted by the National Assembly. If we were to vet them, I would have so many questions to some of those nominees, especially on this issue of mining. The nominee for this portfolio, Hon. Hassan Joho, hails from the Coast. I have seen a video of him going round, with him swearing over his life that he will never engage the President of the Republic of Kenya. I have not seen him leave this country or earth, so I know it is not his reincarnation; it is still the same person. If I were a committee member who vets such a character or person, the first question would be, you swore never to talk to the President. Do you still stand by that statement that you made? We want to have people who understand the mandate and the people they work with. You cannot be in the same Cabinet with the President, yet you swore that you will never speak to him, over your dead body. Since you are alive, that is one question I would want to see whether the National Assembly will ask. Madam Temporary Speaker, I know this Bill is providing a preference for local companies. That is a good thing, but as I said before, these local companies must have the ability. If they do not have the ability, they should be allowed to partner with foreigners or other investors that have the ability. If we say we reduce the investors by the name of foreigners, we might be doing injustice to the local people. They will never enjoy the resources because the resources will always be under the ground. The Bill is promoting capacity building and knowledge transfer. I talked before about the sodium cyanide, that some people took advantage of when the truck rolled somewhere in Rironi in Kiambu. 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."
}