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"id": 224084,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. G.G. Kariuki",
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"speaker": {
"id": 330,
"legal_name": "Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki",
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"content": "The Committee that visited Spain comprised of four Members of Parliament, that is, Maj. Madoka, Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry, and I. The committee was to inspect the controversy-ridden Oceanographic Survey Vessel that is under construction by Euro Marine Industries in Spain. The vessel is being constructed for Kenya. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the committee was also mandated to hold discussions with the relevant officials to understand their prospective---, and establish the situation as it is. Before we undertook those visits, we had discussions with Government officials and Ministers; mainly the Minister of State for Defence, the Permanent Secretary and other senior military officials. We also had discussions with the secretary to the Cabinet, Mr. Muthaura, the Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) and officials from the Treasury. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the scene was visited between the 24th, September, 2006 to 27th of the same month. The visit took about three days. When we got there, our main intension was to visit the factory where the vessel was being constructed. It was a very interesting trip because of the way this matter had been published in the Kenyan and international Press. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we were very concerned with what we saw when we got there. Before we inspected the ship, we were guided by the engineer, Col. Fatuku, who is a marine engineer. He is a very effective officer of the Kenya Navy. His explanation to us was very important. He made us understand what the whole thing was about. The gentleman we are talking about was taken to Spain to oversee the implementation of the construction of the ship. That was in July, 2003. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, listening to the gentleman's explanation, it appeared that he supervised the construction of that ship from the beginning to the end. The ship is almost complete as more than 90 per cent has been constructed. We were told that the only part remaining was to mount military equipment such as armaments. We were astonished because by the time we went there, we had already been told that the ship did not exist. It was said that it was a civilian second-hand ship which was being converted to a navy ship. According to our inspection, that was not correct. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we appreciate that none of us was an engineer or an expert in this business. However, we had with us the right person who had stayed in Spain supervising the construction of the ship for a long time. The navy officer arrived in Spain in January, 2002. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want hon. Members to listen very carefully; this means that this contract was signed before the current Government came to power. The navy officer arrived in Spain in January, 2002. He told us that it was not only this ship that the company 1014 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 26, 2007 had constructed. There were many more. They delivered some in 1993, 1994 and two offshore patrol boats in 1996. All these are still in service today. This means that the picture that was created by the people of Kenya and the Press about the company is not true. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I, however, think we cannot blame the Press. They lack clear and correct information. The problem is that the military and the Ministry withdrew from talking about this business as if it was not existing. That is a very surprising thing. Even during the launch of the ship, the officers who witnessed the launch kept quiet as if they did not know what happened. I think everybody got scared of KACC. It is unfortunate that the Government, the Treasury, the Kenya Navy and the Ministry of State for Defence would be scared to stand firm and say: \"That ship is there\". They should have visited that place before the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations undertook the visit. It was misuse of public funds because they knew the issue very well. They witnessed the launch and drank champagne. You could see this on video. We were shown all the officers who went there to witness the launching of the ship. I therefore, think this country needs to be a bit serious in dealing with matters of this nature. For the information of the House, the size of the ship is as follows; 140 tonnes, 85 meters long and 13 meters wide. It is quite a big ship. In fact, we were told it is the only ship of its kind in East and Central Africa. This ship is required by the Kenya Navy as early as yesterday. As we stand here now, our territorial waters are totally undefended. When it was decided that the Government had to build this ship, it was realised that it was required by our defence force. However, it is now that we are trying to find out whether we can find oil under the Indian Ocean. We can get that oil today, but tomorrow, the area could be controlled by our competitors. We need this ship and this is the information we got from them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we were told that the only thing remaining in the construction of the ship is the fitting of armaments. If that has to be done, they have to enter into a new contract with people who are qualified and competent to do this kind of work. That is what they mean when they talk of 90 per cent of the time. In March, 2003 that was the time the construction started. Hon. Members have this Report but I am just going to mention what is important in the Report. In March, 2003, construction started and the ship was officially launched to the sea in January, 2005. The job was successfully done and the ceremony was attended by the Kenya Navy Commander, Chief of System, Department of Defence (DoD). So, there was no secret about this. We all thought that since Anglo Leasing had become an \"animal\" and nobody wants to be quoted, it is unfortunate that we just allowed that situation to continue the way it did, knowing that we are spending millions of shillings to pay the arrears. Up to now, quite a lot of money has not been paid, that is about Kshs1.6 billion which was in arrears by June last year. So, there is a lot that needs to be discussed on this matter. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee was assured that this ship was inspected according to the international standards by Kenya and Loyd specifications and other international marine standards. That was to certify that everything was in order. As I said, 90 per cent is already done and there are other countries today, who want to take over that ship because under the current contract, the amount of money which was spend, which I am going to mention with time--- They are willing to take over this ship because they know that if you want to build a similar one today, it will cost you almost double the amount. That is if the Kenya Government continues to dilly-dally the way it is doing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we went and saw the ship, we also had to hold a meeting with the officials of the Kenyan Embassy in Paris in the name of Mr. Samuel Githae and other officers. They were also concerned as to what has happened in Kenya that a big expensive project like that one is just left the way it was left. The Government of Spain is very concerned as to whether Kenya will continue to be respected in international circles when they engage into April 26, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1015 bilateral agreements. The Kenya Government has not even contacted the Government of Spain to give explanation as to why the situation is the way it is. I think that is a matter that Kenya should be concerned about because our credibility is in question; whether we shall be trusted again in dealing with business of that nature. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we met the Euro Marine representatives and they confirmed what we had been told by our own engineers, that 90 per cent of the ship is already done and what is remaining is for Kenya to pay the remaining amount so that the training of the personnel can be undertaken."
}