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{
    "id": 1451373,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1451373/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 220,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13582,
        "legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
        "slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
    },
    "content": "introduced. The Committee observed that the current wording of Clause 7, particularly Sub-Clause (b)(2), (4) and (5) were problematic. These sub-paragraphs were encroaching on the implementation functions vested in the county governments effectively taking away the county implementation responsibility. Therefore, the committee observed that the Bill lacked a clear funding model for activities in the local content development committee given that the functions of the committee were capital intensive and the absence of specific funding mechanisms and models could hinder the effective execution of its duties. The committee further observed that the original requirements of the local content and development committee to develop a comprehensive register for all services and equipment needed for the extractive industries were to be conducted within six months. These are unrealistic given the complexity of the tasks involved, a six-month timeline was deemed to be insufficient. Further on, the committee observed that the composition of the local content development committee did not include the Principal Secretary (PS) responsible for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. Given that the extractive industry comprises both the oil and gas sector as well as the mining sector, the absence of a PS for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs could lead to inadequate representation and consideration of mining-related issues within the committee. As a result, the committee observed that the original proposal to establish a technical and administrative unit from the Ministry responsible for petroleum as the sole secretariat for the committee raised concerns about how inclusive it could be. Therefore, it was the observation of the committee that some consequential amendments need to be undertaken in the Mining Act so that the Bill will become responsive and also address the issues that need to be raised. We know that Kenya has struck oil mines in some regions in the Rift Valley. We know that we are still stuck in the field development plans. We know that this being a new field, it has and it lacks good frameworks, expertise, and most importantly, it is foreign country-driven. Therefore, the local communities may be disadvantaged if we lack a clear framework within which this can be anchored. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is imperative that as a country we come up with a standardized approach that will guide moving forward in any such exploration. We know that we still have a lot of potential in this country where we have several blocks that have not been explored. Therefore, we must come up with a framework within which the county governments can ensure that the local communities have benefited from the exploration that is being done by foreign companies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the committee, in its consideration of the Bill, was also important. Some of these exploration and exploitation leave a dilapidated environment. We know that environmental degradation in some of these activities can be quite detrimental to the local communities. Therefore, it is important to ensure that as the communities suffer the losses in terms of ecological and environmental losses, adequate measures be put in place. These measures will ensure that the local communities are not only adequately compensated, but because of the advanced technology required to extract some of these 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."
}