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{
    "id": 1522939,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522939/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 383,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Butula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Maero Oyula",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me add my voice to this important Bill. Some of us have suffered greatly because of gold mining. Gold is also found in Busia. The stretch from Kakamega crosses through Busia up to Uganda. Right now, there is fear at the boarder point because some Chinese are mining gold and we suspect they have crossed into Kenya through the underground. The major problem is that we do not have any regulator. Anything gold is messy, because the young men used are never properly compensated nor well protected. They go underground to follow the gold routes. Some of them die in the mines because of the chemicals they use. So, it is important that this exercise is regulated. The establishment of the Corporation mentioned in the Bill will be quite important. It should be given teeth. In Busia, and particularly in my constituency, I faced many problems with gold prospectors. If you ask them for a licence or permit, they do not have any. They simply tell you that they have authority from ‘above.’ Who exactly is the ‘above’? We need to ensure that the authority can be seen. Representation at the counties should be ensured by having respective Ministry officials at the county level. Without any regulation and representation, there are a lot of problems. In our area, we hope that there is a Ministry representative in Kakamega yet there is none. This Bill will help us a lot. It will help people at the border point. The gold belt runs from Uganda deep into Kenyan soil. We need to support this Bill so that our people can be protected. We also need to protect the environment. Miners dig ditches but do not care to fill them up afterward. Some go into school compounds and leave big trenches, which is very dangerous for students. We need regulation and a corporation that can manage mining in the country. I support this Bill, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Thank you."
}