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{
    "id": 185077,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/185077/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 99,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Lesrima",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 178,
        "legal_name": "Simon Saimanga Lesirma",
        "slug": "simon-lesirma"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) I am aware that as a result of liberalisation, the Government has sold 51 per cent of the shares in Telkom Kenya to France Telkom, a strategic investor. This was done with the understanding that the investor will off-load 11 per cent of shareholding through an Initial Public Offer (IPO) during a planned stage two of Telkom Kenya restructuring programme. Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the IPO, the Government of Kenya will sell a further 19 per cent of shareholding to the public and 5 per cent to Telkom Kenya employees. Therefore, by the end of the restructuring process, the share standing will be as follows:- (i) France Telkom - 40 per cent. (ii) The Government of Kenya - 30 per cent. (iii) The public - 30 per cent. During the Safaricom IPO, the Government retained 35 per cent of the shares in the company while the public and Vodafone acquired 25 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. (b) As a result of the liberalisation, a large percentage of ownership in the Telecommunication Sector has been taken over by private ownership who are well placed to provide these services efficiently and effectively. However, the Government is aware that the telecommunication sector poses great challenge to the national security of any country and it is imperative that measures are put in place to ensure safe and secure communication. (c) Measures put in place to ensure safe and secure communication are:- (i) The Government will firmly implement the existing relevant legislations to address emerging security concerns as in the Kenya Communication Act (2) of 1998. (ii) The Government has sponsored the Kenya Communications Amendment Bill (2008) which will be tabled in Parliament soon and hopefully, if supported by Members will improve the safety of the telecommunication sector. (iii) The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) closely monitors and regulates the activities of telecommunication service providers and is mandated to take firm and decisive action 2582 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 8, 2008 to any service provider who operates in a way which is inconsistent to national security and safety. (iv) The Government has also put in place administrative measures which will ensure that security concerns posed by telecommunication service providers are addressed at different levels of Government."
}