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{
    "id": 385313,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/385313/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 62,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "natural resources that we have in our counties are, first and foremost, used by the people for whom God meant to benefit from the resources. God was not absent minded when he placed those natural resources there and made sure that the people were there. In as much as God was not absent minded when he placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and requested them to look after God’s creation in that particular spot of the earth. I think it would be unfair really for anybody or the national Government to carry out this exploitation of the natural resources without paying attention or looking after Kenyans who live there. This does not mean that these resources will not help others; they will definitely help them. One of the very clear examples of the development of natural resources in one part of Kenya which are then used elsewhere is that of water. We, in Nairobi, depend on water resources from around the City. Sometimes you can go to places where this water comes from and you look at the people who live there in dire poverty; this is the highest level of negligence. That we benefit from a very vital element of life called water should lead us to look into the affairs and the livelihoods of those from around whom these resources are exploited. So, I think this particular Motion is very sensitive to what we might call mutual social responsibility among Kenyans. In Sessional Paper No.10 of 1965 a philosophy was developed that Kenya will develop under the value of mutual social responsibility. In other words, that every Kenyan takes care of and thinks of a fellow Kenyan. This is how we would develop a nation whereby there is solidarity, respect and concern for each other. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the value behind this Motion is really appreciated. I had a discussion with Sen. (Dr.) Zani and Sen. Mwakulegwa with regard to an amendment being brought to this Motion towards the end. That should make this House responsible for the development of the law to implement this Motion. My feeling is that if we leave this responsibility to the Government, it may take quite some time. You will remember this was our experience at the National Assembly. For the time I was there, we would pass a Motion urging the Government to do something and this became a ritual because implementation depended on when the relevant Ministry would take note of the Motion and take action. I am sure that Sen. Dan Mwazo and Sen. (Dr.) Zani will respond to that. Thirdly, I agree with Sen. Mwazo and Sen. (Dr.) Zani with regard to fixing a 20 percent royalty payment. I think the Senator for Migori also said that if we fix this at 20 per cent of the total outlay, it could frighten certain investors especially during the early period of investment when an investor lays a lot of capital investment. The Government attracts investors by giving a five year grace period where you do not pay any taxes so that an investor can put in their investment and make sure that things are going on. When they begin to make profits, the profits are shared among the people and the Government on a certain percentage. So, if you lay down a 20 per cent turnover right from the beginning, Sen. (Dr.) Machage was right, you could scare the goose that lays the golden egg so that it flies away and we will never get the golden egg. As my colleagues have discussed, we will later on have an amendment being proposed to make sure that the percentage is fixed after exchanging discussions between Members of this House and those who are knowledgeable about issues of taxation and so on. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}