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{
    "id": 1522929,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522929/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 373,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Alego Usonga, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Samuel Atandi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity to make my submissions on this Bill. The Gold Processing Bill (National Assembly Bill No.46 of 2023) is timely, because of the issues it seeks to correct. When we talk about gold, we basically think it is about money and wealth but when we go down to the villages and listen to the people involved in gold mining, we are surprised at the environment they work in. Gold miners are some of the poorest workers in this country. Gold mining is not beneficial to the miners principally because the miners do not get returns out of their work. One of the reasons they never get the returns is because of the existence of the middlemen. This Bill seeks to establish a gold processing corporation. This is one of the most fundamental clauses in this Bill. It is very important because a corporation will ensure that there is order in the way gold mining is done. It also seeks to create a board that is going to ensure that there is testing, standards, and safety. We are aware that in the recent past, in many parts of the country, we have lost many Kenyans who were involved in the mining sector. This is because the safety measures that are supposed to guide the workers involved in this sector do not exist. A gold processing corporation is going to ensure that safety measures are put in place, and that there is order I spoke about the returns. If a sector is not organised and properly regulated, it goes without saying that even the workers in it will never be able to get proper returns. In Siaya County, specifically in my Constituency, there are many segments of the Constituency where miners work daily but they do not have equipment for gold mining. It is a manual exercise. Once a gold processing corporation is established, they will plan and introduce technology. That will make the process seamless, commercial and bring equipment that will ensure the environment is protected. In some parts of my Constituency, one of the roads got damaged because of how the miners go around their work underground. Mining can start, for instance, from here but go up to Nyayo Stadium underground. In the process, they may pass a road. As a result, the road gets damaged because of the mining activities. This happens because they lack the technical capacity to guide them to where the gold exists. This Bill is important. I ask Members of this House that we pass it quickly to allow it to be in place for the safety of the miners and to ensure that they get returns. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}