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{
    "id": 406031,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/406031/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Wahome",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1700,
        "legal_name": "Alice Muthoni Wahome",
        "slug": "alice-muthoni-wahome"
    },
    "content": "I will associate myself with many of the comments that have been made by colleagues in support of this Bill. I will start with Clause 24, which talks about the County Wildlife Conservation Committee. There is need to re-think about the process of identifying the four persons; not being public officers, knowledgeable in wildlife matters and nominated by community wildlife associations within the area. The process of electing those people is likely to lose the person with the necessary experience as envisaged by the Bill. I would like the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee to listen to this particular point. We have had Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) elections and sometimes it is very hard to control what the community produces in terms of electoral processes where people are not guided by any regulations. So, this particular provision needs to be re-thought. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker next is Clause 31, in respect of which many hon. Members have expressed dissatisfaction in terms of compensation. We know that a compensation of Kshs200,000 was previously allocated for a person killed by wildlife. It is also good to be mindful of the fund that will be created. If we recommend very excessive compensation amounts, we are likely to deflate this particular fund. It is not good to have a single figure of, say, Kshs1 million or Kshs3 million per person without taking into account the situation in life of the specific person who has been injured by wildlife; and the age of that person. The Departmental Committee Chairperson needs to take this matter back to the Committee. We could lose a child or a family’s bread winner. Compensation should take into account various factors. Lost years will be counted depending on my age. So, that is something which must be taken into account. Paying Kshs200,000 for a child and Kshs200,000 for a person who is 40 years, which is one’s prime life, is not reasonable. So, those particular provisions need to be streamlined. Even insurance compensations for lives lost in road accidents take into account the earnings of the specific person. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Clause 32 also needs to be re-thought out. It provides for the committee on compensation. This House seems to be taking itself out of work. Every now and then, Members of Parliament seem to be coming with laws that completely remove them from their oversight roles. Particularly, in the area of compensation, most people will land in the office of the Member of Parliament. While the County Governor is involved in the compensation committee, there is no indication of how Members of Parliament can be involved. There should be representation of Members of Parliament in every county. It is possible that Members of Parliament can use one of them as a voice of the National Assembly. For me, that is a gap we must fill. Clause 38 relates to declaration of areas of national parks. The Cabinet Secretary has sweeping powers. I would want to see this clause amended to allow that kind of declaration to be subject to the approval of the National Assembly. I want this amended to read: “The Cabinet Secretary may, in consultation with competent Committee, but with the approval of the National Assembly.” Communities will always raise issues. So, the National Assembly has a role to play. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the proposed penalties are completely excessive. Some of them mean well but others could completely become a challenge to our communities. The proposed penalties range between Kshs200,000, for some offences, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}