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{
    "id": 419424,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/419424/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 118,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "content": "Therefore, the safety of these pipelines must be secured both at the depot and when in transit. It is important to do this because of the history and the things we have recently witnessed regarding the risks that the public is exposed to. It is therefore important that the report should recommend some safety procedures that should be done. It is also important to have very feasible and elaborate disaster preparedness with regard to this inflammable product that the company deals with. We know and are aware at the moment of a case which is going on in the High Court regarding the disaster that happened in Nairobi where a burst pipe caused several deaths. In fact, a case like this is very costly to the company and to the country because it involves loss of revenue. It is important that we have recommendations in such reports to cover such occurrences. There was a recommendation that the company is trying as much as possible to transport the product through the pipelines. It would be commendable if the company would try as much as possible to reduce the amount of petroleum or diesel carried on the roads. Of late, we have had very serious accidents involving heavy vehicles that are carrying large quantities of petroleum. This has caused significant deaths of wananchi. Of course, this is a real danger because it continues to go on. As we noticed, our people always scramble for fuel when a tanker overturns. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), I recommend and suggest, should find it very important to address the security of the port. This is in particular with regard to the presence of the many clearing agents that are working there. It is apparent, from what we have heard, that the clearing agents and other crooks who work at the port are much more sophisticated than the procedures that have been put in place. Owing to this, the country is losing a lot of revenue just because of the activities of the individuals at the port who are acting as agents. It was recommended in this Report that legislation ought to be put in place. I recommend that the recommendations be fast tracked so that these kinds of activities stop. I know that these activities go on and this can be shown by the evidence that is there. The evidence that is there shows that occasionally, large quantities of ivory have been arrested in far off places like China or the Philippines, having gone through the Port of Mombasa. That means that this issue is continuing in Mombasa. We know that there are also contrabands goods that have been coming into the country. For the same reasons, they go through the same Port of Mombasa and enter into our country. We know that there are several materials like hard drugs and many other things and more worrying are the activities by the terrorists. It is important that the port assures wananchi of adequate security so that we are safe as a consequence of what is going on at the port. This recommendation should be enhanced in the Report that we were given. There was also a recommendation that talked about the national oil reserves. It is important for us to know that the petroleum that is in the country, at the moment, is in the hands of marketing agents. The country does not have its own oil reserves. This is a very important point. The country should own some of the oil rather than the oil being owned by the companies. I am glad to hear that one of the terminals in Mombasa will be used as a storage facility. It is not only the oil company that will use the petroleum but the Kenya Government will also stock its own oil reserves. This is very important in terms of every aspect, including the security of the nation. 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."
}