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"id": 223691,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. G.G. Kariuki",
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"legal_name": "Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am glad that you have noticed that we have a lot of problems back there. I think this is a matter the Clerk should have known with his team because this problem has been there for a long time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, what I was trying to say is that, Euro Marine, the company which is doing the construction of the vessel we are talking about, went through the international tender. They won the tender and started constructing the ship. As I said last week, and I explained very ably last week from the day this company started work and when it was put through the international tenders. What was left undone at the rise of the House last week was the issue of our recommendations. The Committee had, therefore, recommended that the Government of Kenya (GoK) should urgently give an official response to the International Arbitration Court (IAC), which has not been done. The IAC was approached by the company which is building this ship because the GoK kept quiet about what happened after the officer who was dealing with this matter was withdrawn when the issue of corruption was first mentioned in this country regarding this business. They kept quiet without responding to any correspondence, and we found it very outrageous that the Government could just keep quiet without answering to the company which has constructed this ship, which is 90 per cent ready for delivery. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we recommended the following: First, the Government should respond and state their position. Secondly, the Government should consider having an independent surveyor to see how much of the contract has been done and what kind of money they are expected to pay following the finishing of the construction. As I said last week, the ship is 98 per cent ready. All that is remaining and expected by the builder of this ship, that is Euro Marine, is for the officers to be chosen to go for training. After everything is ready, all money is paid, they require some officers to go and get some training, which is all that is expected now. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other option is that, the GoK must consider nullifying the existing contract if they are not happy with it. But they have to explain whether they have any right of suspending this contract, which was done through international requirements. We have to deal with it the way it is. But if they are tired with Euro Marine, they should now introduce a new group. But before they do that, the Government must employ new people who will survey and consider how much is left and how much they are expected to pay. Nullifying the contract will involve a lot of other interests, because the Government of Spain is a bit concerned that the Kenyan Government would behave the way it is behaving, by not responding to the company which is registered in Spain. That company is registered by the Government of Spain, and Spain is wondering whether Kenya is now going to be respected internationally in terms of bilateral agreements. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we also recommended that the Government should deal firmly, both politically and legally, with persons implicated in committing the crime, if there is any crime. May 2, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1079 The Government should come out and explain the sort of crime which has been committed. The Department of Defence (DoD) had gone there to witness the launch of this ship and immediately the issue of corruption was mentioned, they kept off and went completely underground. Now, the ship is lying there and it has been given a name. When we went to see the ship, we found it had a Kenyan flag flying there, and it has been baptized \"Jasiri\". You wonder why these things are just left like that. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the matter was reported as one of the 18 Anglo Leasing companies which was giving Kenya a bad name, I think that the Media and the newspapers just took up the matter. I will not blame the newspapers and the Media, because they ought to have been told exactly what it is. But here, everybody appears to have disappeared. So, we stayed in a situation without knowing what is happening, and that is why the Media kept on and on, and the issue which was brought up by the Media made all the officers to go underground. But it was the responsibility of the Government to remain firm and say what it is, because that is what, I think, the Government failed to do. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the money which was involved in building this ship is Kshs3.9 billion. Already, Kshs1.55 billion has been paid. By June, 2006, Kshs1.833 had not been paid, which includes interest, penalties and instalments. Since we would like debate on this Report to come to an end today, if all goes well, the Committee is convinced that the Oceanographic Survey Vessel is still urgently needed by the Kenya Navy. Every necessary measure to resolve the issue hindering its delivery to Mombasa should be urgently considered. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our territorial sea boundaries are not defended. We were told that the Oceanographic Survey Vessel would be the only one of its kind in East and Central Africa. If you look at that machine, you will wonder why it is lying where it is. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I talked about this matter last week and almost exhausted what is in the Report. Hon. Members have a copy of that Report and I do not need to repeat it. But on behalf of my Committee, I wish to present the Report on the fact-finding visit to the Kingdom of Spain to inspect the Oceanographic Survey Vessel, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order, No.162. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to move and request Maj. Madoka to second the Motion."
}